Back pain is no laughing matter. It’s a common problem that can seriously disrupt your daily life. In fact, it’s currently one of the top reasons people face work-related challenges in the United States. 

Whether you find it challenging to make it to work, are unable to fully enjoy quality time with your family, or are restricted from engaging in your favorite activities, the impact of back pain can be truly disheartening. You might miss those playful moments with your children, or simply lose out on life’s most precious moments.

The causes of back pain are diverse – it could be due to a recent injury from lifting something heavy, or you might have been battling chronic back pain for quite some time. 

Regardless of the cause, if you’re looking for relief, you’re not alone. There are numerous treatments available, but one that has been a game-changer for many is CBD. 

How Does CBD Work?

CBD manages pain by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is made up of receptors found throughout the body, from the skin to the brain.

These receptors react to cannabinoids, which may originate internally as endocannabinoids, serving as the body’s chemical messengers for neuron-to-neuron and neuron-to-muscle communication, or can be introduced from external sources like cannabis.

CBD positively impacts nerve function by reducing pain sensitivity through the inhibition of nerve signal transmission, leading to pain relief. Additionally, CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties enhance its effectiveness in managing pain, further strengthening its benefits.

Types of Back Pain

First, it’s important to figure out what’s causing your back pain. This is crucial to make sure there’s nothing serious going on. 

Back pain can range from something simple, like straining your back while lifting something heavy, to something more serious, like a problem in your spinal cord. 

Depending on the cause, some pain relief and rest might be enough to help you heal, but in other cases, surgery might be necessary. If you have long-lasting pain, CBD can be useful, especially when there’s no cure for your condition, as it can help reduce the pain.

Types of Back Pain Causes:

• Mechanical Back Pain: This type of back pain doesn’t have a specific cause, and it can result from recent injuries or repetitive movements. It’s the most common type of back pain, and it gets worse with certain activities. Usually, it’s acute, meaning you’ve been in pain for less than 6 weeks.

• Inflammatory Back Pain: It is a type of pain that doesn’t show improvement with rest and, in some instances, can even worsen during the night. It tends to get better when you engage in physical activity. This pain is characterized by its chronic nature, lasting for more than three months.

• Neuropathic Back Pain: This pain happens when a nerve gets irritated or squeezed. It can make you feel a burning or sharp pain, especially at night. This type of pain is commonly connected to conditions like sciatica and diabetes and can extend down into the leg, causing discomfort. It’s called “chronic” because it persists for a long time. One common cause of neuropathic back pain is fibromyalgia, which can be eased by CBD.

Back Pain Locations

• Cervical Pain: This is pain in the neck area, which can extend to the shoulders, arms, and head. The most common cause is something called “torticollis,” which happens when certain neck muscles get too tight due to sudden movements or stress.

• Back Pain: Back pain can occur in different areas. Mechanical back pain is often caused by things like lifting heavy objects or having bad posture. It can be a moderate pain that gets worse when you move.

• Lumbar Pain: The lower back is the most common spot for back pain. It can be caused by various things like injuries, aging, or poor habits like sitting badly or being overweight. When the back gets hurt, it can form weaker scar tissue, which makes it more prone to injury in the future.

Is CBD Good for Back Pain?

The short answer is, yes.

But what does science say about CBD?  In a 2021 study, conducted across seven Southern California pain management clinics, 253 participants shared insights into their experiences with CBD products. Among the participants, 62.0% had experimented with CBD, and of those, 59.0% reported a reduction in pain levels. One of the most remarkable insights from the patients was that 67.6% of them were able to decrease their reliance on pain medication, including opioids in 53.7% of cases. 

Other remarks made by participants were that 71.1% believed in CBD’s efficacy and 74.9% perceived it as non-harmful (74.9%), while 65.3% considered it non-addictive (65.3%).

In other research studies with patients experiencing chronic pain due to conditions like lumbar spinal stenosis, the use of CBD led to noticeable pain relief compared to their initial discomfort levels.

It’s important to mention that this is an exciting and ever-evolving field. Ongoing research keeps discovering new benefits of CBD for treating back pain. For now, the results are promising and offer an encouraging range of natural pain relief options for individuals dealing with back discomfort.

How to Use CBD for Back Pain?

There are different CBD products that can help you alleviate back pain:

CBD Oil: This is one of the most popular ways to use CBD for pain relief. You can take it once or twice a day, depending on your weight and how much pain you’re experiencing. 

How to use CBD oil for pain? Put our full-spectrum CBD oil under your tongue for 10 seconds and then swallow. You can do this once or twice a day.

CBD Salve: Think of a salve as a thick, concentrated cream that’s perfect for applying directly to your skin. It’s especially good at getting through your skin to where it hurts. 

Our Full-Spectrum CBD Salve for Chronic Pain, with added Eucalyptus, is fantastic for soothing localized pain. 

How to use CBD Salve for pain? Simply apply the salve directly to the area that’s bothering you, gently rub it in until you see a thin layer, and avoid showering or swimming to let it do its job.

CBD Gel Caps: Studies have shown that these capsules can help with pain caused by a narrowed spinal canal compressing nerves. 

How to use CBD gel caps for pain? You’ll usually take 1-2 capsules per day, but the exact amount might vary depending on the brand, your body, and your specific condition.

Is It Safe to Take CBD to Relieve Back Pain?

In simple terms, CBD is known to be effective in reducing pain and discomfort, and it usually has very few side effects. 

But it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before trying CBD or making big changes to how you manage pain, especially if your condition is complex or if you’re taking other medications.

Key Takeaways:

1. Back pain is a common issue that can significantly affect your daily life and work-related activities.
2. The causes of back pain are diverse, ranging from recent injuries to chronic conditions.
3. CBD’s pain-relieving effects involve the regulation of pain signal transmission within the nervous system, spanning from nerve cells in the skin to various bodily tissues, coupled with the ability to reduce inflammation.
4. There is a range of CBD products you can try for your particular case.
5. It’s generally safe to use CBD for pain relief. Still, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you have a complex medical condition or are taking other medications.

References

Bakewell BK, Sherman M, Binsfeld K, Ilyas AM, Stache SA, Sharma S, Stolzenberg D, Greis A. “The Use of Cannabidiol in Patients With Low Back Pain Caused by Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: An Observational Study.” Cureus. 2022 Sep 15;14(9):e29196. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.29196

Chronic Back Pain. Health Policy Institute. Georgetown University. https://hpi.georgetown.edu/backpain/ 

Henshaw FR, Dewsbury LS, Lim CK, Steiner GZ. “The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies.” Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2021 Jun;6(3):177-195. DOI: 10.1089/can.2020.0105

Manzanares J, Julian M, Carrascosa A. “Role of the cannabinoid system in pain control and therapeutic implications for the management of acute and chronic pain episodes.” Curr Neuropharmacol. 2006 Jul;4(3):239-57. DOI: 10.2174/157015906778019527

Schilling JM, Hughes CG, Wallace MS, Sexton M, Backonja M, Moeller-Bertram T. “Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Survey of Patients’ Perspectives and Attitudes.” J Pain Res. 2021 May 5;14:1241-1250. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S278718

Xantus G, Zavori L, Matheson C, Gyarmathy VA, Fazekas LM, Kanizsai P. “Cannabidiol in low back pain: scientific rationale for clinical trials in low back pain.” Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Jun;14(6):671-675. DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1917379