Patient Experience and Perspective on Medical Cannabis as an Alternative for Musculoskeletal Pain Management

Abstract

Introduction: The current rate of opioid prescription is disquieting because of their high abuse potential, adverse effects, and thousands of overdose deaths. This situation imposes urgency in seeking alternatives for adequate pain management. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the experience and the perceived analgesic efficacy of medical cannabis in managing the pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions. Methods: A 28-question survey was distributed to patients at a major medical cannabis center in Puerto Rico for 2 months. Demographics, medical history, cannabis usage, cannabis use perspective, and analgesic efficacy were assessed in the questionnaire. Results: One hundred eighty-four patients completed our survey. The majority (67%) were males, and the participants' average age was 38 years. This study showed an average pain reduction score of 4.02 points on the Numeric Rating Scale among all the participants. Those with musculoskeletal conditions reported a notable average pain reduction score of 4.47 points. In addition, 89% of the participants considered medical cannabis to be more effective than narcotics for adequate pain management. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the use of medical cannabis among patients with musculoskeletal conditions effectively reduced pain levels based on their Numeric Rating Scale reported scores.

Perceptions in orthopedic surgery on the use of cannabis in treating pain: a survey of patients with spine pain (POSIT Spine)

“…Nevertheless, high-quality data regarding cannabis use for pain management in Orthopedic surgery is scarce, indicating that more research is needed [ 21 , 22 ]. While research on the effectiveness of cannabis for pain management is still ongoing, some have reported significant improvements in their symptoms with its use [ 23 ]. In Canada, medical cannabis has been legal since 2001, and in 2018 Canada legalized the recreational use of cannabis, presenting a unique setting for cannabis research.…”

Individuals’ Values and Preferences Regarding Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

“…7 Studies examining individuals' perspectives on cannabis for chronic pain have found that many who used medical cannabis consider it useful for pain relief. [8][9][10] However, there is limited information on the values and preferences of PLwCP in Canada, including how they weigh benefits and drawbacks of cannabis use, barriers and facilitators faced in the use of medical cannabis, decisions made regarding routes of administration and types of products used, sources where cannabis is obtained, and sources of information regarding cannabis for chronic pain. Incorporating such values and preferences into guidelines can improve the trustworthiness of recommendations and may lead to better outcomes for people living with chronic pain by promoting productive conversations and shared decision-making between individuals and providers.…”