Loading
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
Dispense Magazine
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Featured
    • News
    • Health
    • Law
    • Interviews
  • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Physicians
    • Clinics
    • Dispensaries
    • Glossary
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Menu

Pain Management and Medical Cannabis: An Integrative Therapeutic Approach

Featured, Health, Sponsored
Pain Management and Medical Cannabis An Integrative Therapeutic Approach - Dispense MagazineDispense Magazine

Almost everyone, at some point in their lives, experiences an extended painful episode, either from traumatic or degenerative musculoskeletal or neurological problems. The negative complicating effects of chronic pain include decreased sleep, mood, and function (mobility, self-care, vocation, and avocation) and increased anxiety and cost of health care. Many conventional pain treatments have unpleasant (or worse) physical and/ or cognitive side effects; cost a lot; need to be sometimes inconveniently administered by ancillary healthcare practitioners, or don’t work very well.

Dedicated and compassionate clinicians, with thorough history procurement and physical, laboratory, and/ or radiographic examinations, endeavor to accurately diagnose the source(s) of pain in order to devise and implement practical and cost-effective treatment plans that would provide optimal clinical outcomes. First-line treatments include: eliminating provocative factors; managing stress; optimizing sleep, exercise, nutrition, and social connection; optimizing mobility seating and sleeping positioning with supports, footwear, pillows, and braces; and prescribing additional professional services from physical or occupational therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, Yoga/Tai Chi/Qi Gong instructors, massage therapists, and the rest of the spectrum of care from complementary and alternative practitioners.
Second-line treatments include prescription medication, surgical intervention, and, since the spring of 2018, medical cannabis. Pain physicians have many therapeutic medication options that traditionally have started with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and move to opioid analgesics and adjuvant analgesics (which include: anti-seizure, anti-depressant, antispasmodic agents).

As it turns out, medical cannabis has become quite a popular and effective adjunctive tool that has been shown to have analgesic properties for those suffering from nerve-related pain. It can be seen as fairly safe when administered carefully and thoughtfully. There has never been even one reported case of overdose death by cannabis. Indeed, intoxicated individuals can accidentally physically harm themselves
and others with poor choices made while under the influence.
Medical cannabis is available in 33 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Pennsylvania, the Medical Marijuana Program oversees growers, producers, dispensaries, clinicians, users, and caretakers within a highly- regulated system. Medical cannabis is produced into various formulations that include: vaporizers, sublingual tinctures, transdermal creams/lotions/ ointments/patches, and oral capsules. The list of approved therapeutic indications is growing but includes chronic moderate/severe pain, traumatic and degenerative neurological conditions, cancer, severe bowel disease, glaucoma, PTSD, terminal illness, and most recently, anxiety. Scientific studies, mostly performed in Canada and Israel, have proven therapeutic effect in treating nausea, fatigue, anorexia, insomnia, anxiety, and many other symptoms
and conditions.
Most users have shared that they do not like being intoxicated and out of control during waking hours – there are formulations available with lower concentrations of THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the euphoria-inducing cannabinoid. At night, when sleep and calm are desired, higher concentrations of THC may be dosed to create a controlled and therapeutic intoxication. While many other cannabinoids (cannabidiol, cannabichromene, cannabinol, and terpenes like linalool, humulene, and beta-myrcene) have been isolated, their exact clinical
effects have not been well researched, due to federal rules (Schedule 1 drugs (marijuana is one) are presumed devoid of therapeutic value with purportedly highly addictive potential) prohibiting rigorous scientific study. The “entourage effect” of exposure to the spectrum of
cannabinoids is considered beneficial but has not been adequately elucidated.
The process that a prospective user must follow starts with online registration with the PA Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program, physician certification (performed once a preponderance of conventional therapeutic options has been trialed and failed to produce adequate results), and then procurement of the user’s or caretaker’s identification card. Certification requires physicians to review risks and benefits of treatment, travel restrictions, goals of treatment, strategies for therapeutic trials, and other logistical/practical information. There are many dispensaries from which to choose which keeps prices relatively competitive.
While there are myriad approaches to treating pain and reducing the burden of associated symptoms, in order to optimize function and quality of life, medical cannabis is playing an increasingly important role as a tool in the physician’s medical bag. Early evidence has shown that where medical cannabis is offered, prescriptions for opioids have declined, or at least the dosing of opioids is reduced. It remains to be conclusively determined if this translates into reduced opioid overdoses and deaths. However, anecdotal reports have been encouraging.

L. Matthew Schwartz, MD, is board-certified in physical medicine, pain medicine, and integrative holistic medicine. He diagnoses serious medical conditions that qualify for medical cannabis certification. He also provides certification for eligible adults. He can be reached at MyHealth360, 1108 East Willow Grove Avenue, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038. Originally published on myhealth360.org. Reprinted by permission.

December 12, 2019/by L. Matthew Schwartz, MD
Tags: chronic pain, L. Matthew Schwartz, MD, Mecical Cannabis, Medical Cannabis Magazine, medical marijuana, medical marijuana card, Medical Marijuana Certification, pa medical marijuana card, PA Medical Mariuana PRogram, pain management
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://dispensemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Pain-Management-and-Medical-Cannabis-An-Integrative-Therapeutic-Approach-2.jpg 721 1281 L. Matthew Schwartz, MD https://dispensemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Dispense-Magazine-Logo-1.svg L. Matthew Schwartz, MD2019-12-12 10:59:342020-01-17 01:40:50Pain Management and Medical Cannabis: An Integrative Therapeutic Approach
You might also like
Illinois expunges marijuana related criminal recordsDispense Magazine Judge rules 'plain smell' of marijuana no longer provides authorities with probable cause to search a vehicle
Dispense Magazine Check out Dispense Magazine and more at the Third Annual Mind, Body, Spirit Healing Expo
Dispense Magazine - Medical Cannabis, DUI, and Your Driver's LicenseDispense Magazine Medical Cannabis, DUI, and Your Pennsylvania Driver’s License
Are Legal PA Vapes Safe - Dispense MagazineDispense Magazine Are Legal PA Vapes Safe?
Dispense Magazine - Cannabis ScienceDispense Magazine Cannabis Science
Dispense Magazine - Dispense With The NonsenseDispense Magazine Dispense With The Nonsense: Cheers, Jeers, Sighs and Raspberries on The Front Lines of Reefer Madness

Featured

  • Cannabis Terpenes, a guide for Medical Marijuana PatientsDispense MagazineLet’s Talk Terpenes – FarnesolJanuary 20, 2020 - 10:50 pm
  • Cannabis Terpenes, a guide for Medical Marijuana PatientsDispense MagazineLet’s Talk Terpenes – CedreneJanuary 13, 2020 - 7:08 pm
  • Cannabis Terpenes, a guide for Medical Marijuana PatientsDispense MagazineLet’s Talk Terpenes – MentholJanuary 6, 2020 - 11:49 am
  • The PA Flower Shortage - Growing Pains or Structural Problems 3Dispense MagazineFlower Shortage in PA – Growing Pains or Structural Problems?January 5, 2020 - 3:06 pm
  • Dispense Magazine Podcast Now Available on iheartradioDispense MagazineDispense Podcast now available on iHeartRadioJanuary 1, 2020 - 5:21 pm
  • Cannabis Terpenes, a guide for Medical Marijuana PatientsDispense MagazineLet’s Talk Terpenes – FencholDecember 30, 2019 - 10:00 pm

Newsletter Signup

Download the Latest Issue!

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Dispense Magazine

800 Bay Ridge Ave

Apt 1
Pittsburgh, PA 15226

412.915.5340

[email protected]

Categories

  • Featured (68)
  • Health (81)
  • Interviews (26)
  • Law (10)
  • News (55)
  • Podcast (34)
  • Science (17)
  • Sponsored (7)
  • Terpenes (26)

Find Dispense Magazine

© 2019 - Dispense Magazine | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Disclaimer | Website by Budding Brand
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
How High is Too High? How High Is Too HuDispense Magazine Cannabis Terpenes, a guide for Medical Marijuana PatientsDispense Magazine Let’s Talk Terpenes – Delta-3-Carene Scroll to top

Dispense Magazine utilizes cookies to give you the best browsing experience possible. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK


How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Accept settingsHide notification only

Enter your email address for a FREE digital copy of Dispense Magazine!

 

Enter your email address to receive this quarter’s issue, absolutely free!

If you would like a physical copy, please click here

Dispense Medical Marijuana Magazine Volume 1 Issue 3 Cover

Please fill out the form below, and we’ll send you a copy of our latest issue.

 

Dispense Medical Marijuana Magazine Volume 1 Issue 3 Cover

 

Enter your email address to receive this quarter’s issue, absolutely free!

If you would like a physical copy, please click here

This is text

2019 Multimedia Advertising Guide

Please fill out the form to receive a copy of our advertising guidelines. Once submitted, one of our advertising reps will get right back to you.