Can CBD relieve sciatica ?

If like many people around the world, you are looking for a safe and effective solution to relieve your lower back pain, then you have come to the right place. In the following, you can find out how CBD can intervene against this ailment, and bring real relief to patients. 

The effectiveness of CBD in treating sciatica

In general, CBD is known to be a very effective substance against many ailments. This is possible due to its various analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have indeed proven that this substance from hemp can fight against pain in general, and more specifically against chronic pain of moderate intensity. In the specific case of back pain, studies have also shown that CBD, thanks to its cannabinoids could act positively on neuropathic and inflammatory pain. 

So, the various tests conducted on animals to confirm this hypothesis have proven to be very encouraging. As for the actual effect on humans, here are some published studies that should be enough to convince you:

• A review published in the "Journal of Opioid Management" in 2020: the study was based on the treatment of patients with back pain, using CBD creams, oils, flowers. The result that emerged was that the use of CBD can promote significant pain relief. 

• A study published in the "International Journal of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine" in 2016: it reports on 46 patients with back pain treated with therapeutic cannabis. It shows that this substance has improved the mental and physical functions of patients. It was also of great help in reducing the intensity of pain. 

It is true that for the time being, these studies are still few and far between to consider CBD as a miraculous and 100% effective remedy for the pain caused by sciatica. However, there are already many testimonies from patients and their relatives, which confirm the conclusions of the tests conducted so far. Therefore, people suffering from sciatica can turn to CBD-based treatment without hesitation to get satisfaction.

In fact, thanks to its many properties, CBD can relieve back pain and then represent an effective treatment for sciatica. More concretely, it allows to act on chronic pain in order to soothe it. It also allows to reduce the inflammations caused by this evil, in order to bring a relief to the patients. This is how it improves their general comfort as well as their quality of life. 

On the other hand, it is important to know that even if it is effective, a CBD-based treatment cannot prevent the progression of the disease or treat its causes. It simply provides relief from symptoms and pain. In other words, CBD should not be used as the sole treatment for sciatica, but rather it should accompany proper medication.

What are other treatments for sciatica ?

As you might expect, CBD is not the only remedy available today to combat sciatica. Medical professionals can actually offer you several solutions to treat the symptoms and cause of your sciatica. The cause of sciatica can vary greatly from patient to patient, but very often it is a herniated disc. Regardless, to provide relief, the doctor may prescribe products such as:

• Painkillers

• Muscle relaxants

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.

It is as a replacement for some of these medications that CBD can be used. However, professional advice should be sought to avoid negative health interactions. For mild pain, a doctor may advise moderate exercise instead. Then, once the pain and other symptoms gradually disappear, the next step is to undergo muscle strengthening therapy. This will aim to prevent a possible recurrence of the disease symptoms, through strengthening the muscles of the back and abdomen. 

Also in an effort to alleviate back pain, some professionals recommend adopting simple daily actions and habits. These include:

• Avoid sleeping while lying on your stomach

• Sleep on a firm mattress

• When going to sleep, lie on your back or side, keeping your knees bent

• Learn to keep feet flat on the floor when sitting, without crossing legs

• During pain, sleep with a pillow under the knees or between the knees, whichever works best for you

• When sitting, use a chair with a firm back

• Get into the habit of sitting upright, keeping your back pressed against the back of your seat

• Use cold or heat to relieve muscle spasms.

What exactly is sciatica ?

Sciatica is a condition still known as low back pain. It results in pain directly related to the compression of the sciatic nerve connected to the leg. It is a very common condition, which often affects people over 30 years old. This disease manifests itself by a more or less intense and sometimes chronic pain, which affects the entire sciatic nerve. This nerve starts at the level of the lumbar spine, i.e. at the bottom of the back. Then, it passes through the buttock, and continues along the back of the thigh and the leg. Finally, it ends its journey at the foot. 

This disease can have many causes, but usually it occurs after stress, trauma, or overuse of the lumbar spine. It can also occur in healthy people, without necessarily having an underlying cause. However, in these cases, the patient often has a history of low back pain.

As you may have noticed, CBD can be very effective in providing relief for those suffering from sciatica. This disorder that most often manifests itself as lower back pain can sometimes become very painful for patients. The CBD comes then to soothe them to improve their quality of life. It can replace the usual painkillers, but certainly not the treatment to cure this disease. So you will need to ask your specialist about how to combine CBD with your sciatica treatment.