There are many neurological disorders that can cause spasticity, including cerebral palsy (CP), multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The injury causes neural impulses to misfire, causing (or hindering) movement in both the upper and lower extremities of the body.
Neuropathic disorders of the nervous system can be difficult to treat. That is because the central nervous system is not one precise area but a neural network of messages delivered from the brain and spinal cord.
Because traditional medications are not always effective, medical marijuana for spasticity may be an option that many patients explore. Patients have shared that when added to a treatment plan, cannabis may help reduce pain and help with other symptoms.
What are the Common Symptoms of Spasticity?
Many patients have shared that medical cannabis can relieve spasticity-related symptoms. That is because some types of medical marijuana can provide analgesic effects that temporarily reduce symptoms of pain, particularly for patients who have developed a tolerance to conventional pain medications, such as prescription NSAIDs and opioids.
Human spasticity impacts major and minor muscle groups, and patients must manage a variety of different symptoms:
Muscle Stiffness
Problems with muscle stiffness are the most common symptom of spasticity. Individuals can feel like their muscles are rigid, tight, and very hard to move. It can also feel like muscles are pulling or locking in different positions, which makes voluntary movement difficult.
Spasticity can also cause muscles to lock into place, where an individual feels a great deal of resistance when they want to position their body or limb in a different direction. This can also cause pain and discomfort, contributing to muscle imbalance and wasting.
Muscle Spasms
People who have spasticity may also develop dystonia, which is a movement disorder that results in unwanted muscle spasms. It is involuntary, and muscles can contract in patterns of repetitive motions or lock in abnormal positions.
Muscle spasms can happen at any time without warning and can be painful. Medical marijuana for spasticity is an option because some strains with high CBD ratios may help calm muscle contractions and provide pain relief.
Pain in Muscle Groups
If you exercise, you are familiar with muscle aches and pain, particularly if you exert yourself. People who have spasticity can also experience pain due to muscle overactivity from involuntary contractions. Pain can also be caused by joint deformities that develop as a result of continuous contractions and muscle imbalances.
Pressure sores can develop also in people with severe spasticity. Because of limited range of motion and motor function control, the prolonged pressure on the skin can cause sores (bedsores) and tissue ulcers.
Neurological dysfunction can increase nerve sensitivity for patients living with spasticity. This can cause painful tingling or uncomfortable numbness in different areas of the body. This can be made worse by muscle imbalance, where some muscles are sedentary and lose healthy circulation of blood and oxygen, which can cause additional nerve damage.
Problems With Impaired Coordination and Range of Motion
The neurological condition can disrupt the normal flow of messages from the brain, through the central nervous system, to muscle groups in the body. This makes it more difficult to ambulate, grip, and perform other normally smooth and coordinated muscle movements.
Limited range of motion can occur when muscles are locked or have seized in certain positions. This is a common symptom of cerebral palsy, where extremities like the hand or foot area can curl and become unmoveable due to muscle spasticity. This causes a great impact on activities of daily living and self-care, which adds to the hardship of the condition.
Reduced Muscle Strength and Endurance
Because some muscles can be overactive, patients may build muscle mass temporarily in those areas. However, when muscle movements and range of motion are restricted, muscle groups do not get used, and this can result in reduced strength or muscle wasting.
Abnormal Posture and Muscle Tightening
People who have been diagnosed with spasticity may develop a spinal curvature due to tightening of back and shoulder muscles. Once muscles have tightened, it can be difficult to correct posture. Sometimes, regular physiotherapy can help slow down postural curvatures.
Anxiety and Depression
Patients who have spasticity face many struggles, from loss of independence due to motor coordination problems to feelings of frustration dealing with chronic pain and physical challenges on a daily basis. It’s not hard to understand why some patients develop symptoms of anxiety or depression as they navigate the neurological condition.
On a personal emotional level, people with disabilities can struggle with feelings of lower self-esteem. They may also have a negative body image and feel self-conscious about their physical appearance. Additionally, many medications used to manage spasticity (including muscle relaxants) can have side effects that may alter mood.
If you are coping with the symptoms of spasticity and struggling with anxiety, cannabis use may help press the pause button temporarily on upsetting emotions. Certain strains of medical cannabis may also help with anxiety-related insomnia.
Can I Get a Medical Cannabis Card if I Have Been Diagnosed With Spasticity?
Most neurological disorders are qualifying health conditions that can make you eligible for doctor-supervised medical marijuana. Spasticity as an isolated diagnosis is generally accepted in all states that have a medical cannabis program.
A confirmation of formal diagnosis is required to get medical marijuana for spasticity. That means providing a letter from your primary care doctor or a copy of your medical records showing your diagnosis.
The next step is to schedule an appointment with a cannabis practitioner to review your health history, current medications, and symptom management goals. If the physician certifies you for medical cannabis, you can register with the state program. And legally buy, possess, and use medical cannabis as part of your doctor-supervised treatment plan.
What Types of Medical Cannabis Intake Methods Are Suggested?
Some people may shy away from evaluating medical cannabis because they believe that smoking cannabis is the only method. When you have a neurological condition, smoking marijuana is just one of many different options that may be used to help with spasticity and pain.
For muscle pain, some patients try using cannabis topical creams. Medicinal cannabis research suggests that topicals can help with localized pain relief. They are non-intoxicating, but active cannabinoids are absorbed through the skin and can help reduce inflammation.
Cannabis edibles are a popular choice because they are easy to use. Another reason why patients prefer edibles is that they are slow-release; effects can take up to 90 minutes before you may begin to feel relief. While edibles are slow-acting, the symptom relief they can provide may last from 5 to 7 hours, which is much longer than other types of medical marijuana products.
Where precision is required for dosing, many patients choose oral cannabis extract cannabis tinctures. The cannabis oil comes in a bottle with a dropper for sublingual uptake. You can measure the doctor-suggested dose accurately and place the oil under your tongue, holding it there for 60 seconds to allow maximum absorption into the bloodstream.
Because spasticity can also cause problems with swallowing for some patients, there are tabletop vaporizers that can be used. They look like standard vaporizers with a reservoir for cannabis oil. Placed near the patient, the cannabis vapor can be inhaled easily and may provide a beneficial effect even when a low dose or potency is used.
Cannabis Strains Used for Muscle Spasms and Pain
Cannabidiol (CBD) is another therapeutic option for patients with spasticity. There are many clinical trials that have discussed the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of CBD. In fact, a drug named Epidiolex was the first FDA-approved cannabis medication for the treatment of juvenile epilepsy.
The strains that are most often used to help with muscle spasms have high CBD ratios and typically average THC potency levels. The combination of cannabidiol with THC has been suggested by many studies to be more effective than using CBD isolate alone.
Aaron Bloom serves as the CEO, overseeing the mission and growth of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers. Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives comes from his background in health care. For more than 20 years, Aaron owned, operated, and represented traditional healthcare organizations. This experience created a passion for finding improved ways to relieve suffering. His goal as CEO is to work daily to relieve all patients who seek better health and wellness through the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and evidence-based alternative medicines.
