Did you know that almost every person in America will experience some level of back pain at some point in their life? In fact, the American Chiropractic Association says that the number can be as high as 80%. And if we look at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, they say that somewhere around 65 million of American adults said they recently experienced some form of back pain. 

Wow, that’s a whole lot of back pain in the country!

Sure, there are plenty of pain medications prescribed to help people suffering. However, you can’t deny the terrible side effects of opioids such as addiction. And over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol might not be strong enough to give you relief. 

Luckily, there’s a safe and effective alternative solution: CBD. In this article, we’re going to explain everything you need to know about CBD and how it can help with back pain. 

Of course, you should always speak with your doctor to see if CBD is a suitable option for your condition.

Understanding Pain: Acute vs Chronic

First, let’s go over the two main categories of pain which are acute pain and chronic pain. If you’ve ever bumped your head on the cabinet door or stubbed your toe, you know exactly what acute pain is. It’s characterized by being sudden and quick, usually caused by some type of trauma. 

On the other hand, chronic pain is pain that persists over a long period of time. This typically comes from conditions such as arthritis, cancer, and a plethora of diseases and ailments. CBD is best suited for chronic pain. That’s because acute pain will heal over time after some rest, relaxation, and time. 

If pain lasts for more than 12 weeks, then it’s classified as chronic. It’s estimated that nearly 20% of people with back pain say that it’s chronic. The usual remedies for it come in the form of physical therapy, medications, and, in extreme cases, surgery. Sometimes, it can require all three and the person still suffers after it’s all said and done.

Although the research is still underway, there are some promising results that find CBD useful for fighting chronic back pain. And what’s better is that it’s relatively safe with none of the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals such as addiction.

Some of the Causes of Back Pain

Back pain is so rampant across the nation because there are so many issues that can lead to it. We’ll go over some of the most common causes here:

• Obesity: When you’re overweight, the extra weight puts a ton of strain and stress on the spine over time. Obesity is also linked to other issues such as knee pain.

• Old Age: Unfortunately, the body starts to deteriorate over time. Normal wear and tear can cause back pain.

• Your posture: If you spend years hunched over with incorrect posture, it can lead to back pain.

• Sleeping on a poor-quality mattress: Sleeping on a bad mattress can cause the spine to contour in odd ways, which leads to lower back pain.

• Arthritis: When it affects the back, it’s called osteoarthritis. As the cartilage in your spine degrades, it can lead to chronic back pain.

• Injury: Years of hard labor with constant lifting and straining can cause back pain later in life. Also, a severe traumatic injury such as a car crash can cause chronic pain.

• Fibromyalgia: This is a condition that causes pain and fatigue to the muscles in the body.

• Sciatica: Sciatica is caused because the sciatic nerve becomes compressed. The sciatic nerve is a long nerve that starts at the upper butt and runs down one of your legs.

Of course, these are just a few causes of back pain. The truth is, back pain can be mysterious sometimes and doesn’t have a direct cause doctors can pinpoint. That’s why CBD is special because some of its mechanics are mysterious too and seem to work with natural systems in the body. Let’s delve into how CBD deals with pain.

CBD, Back Pain, and How We Think It Works

OK, we’re going to get a little science-y here, so bear with us. First, let’s go over how pain works. When you feel pain, it’s thanks to signals sent by nerve endings called nociceptors to your brain. It can be physical or chemical signals, but it will still register to you as pain and discomfort. Of course, it’s way more complicated than that but that’s a simplified view of what’s going on.

Another thing you need to understand is the endocannabinoid system. It’s an old, naturally occurring network of receptors and compounds called endocannabinoids (because they’re similar to cannabinoids in structure) that’s present throughout your entire body. As far as we can tell, the endocannabinoid system’s primary function is to keep everything going on in your body in perfect harmony. 

CB1 and CB2 are the two main receptors of this system, which easily bind with your natural endocannabinoids and cannabinoids found in cannabis– primarily THC and CBD. Now, these receptors are everywhere in your body, and this includes your spine and back muscles. 

In the case of pain, research from Harvard found that CBD helps modulate pain perception by affecting the nociceptors. But not only does CBD exhibit pain-relieving effects, but it also has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties which makes it great for conditions such as osteoarthritis. 

In general, research has found that CBD can be useful for a wide array of ailments. For example, it can help those going through chemotherapy by restoring their appetite and reducing nausea and vomiting. Plus, it’s also been effective in helping with conditions such as acne, muscle spasms, insomnia, anxiety, depression, glaucoma, epilepsy, and so much more.

That’s one of the reasons so many people are excited about CBD, and why you’re finding it pop up in so many products from gummies and tinctures to lip balm and skin care products. As more research happens and more money is put behind it, we might finally unlock the full potential CBD has to offer the world.