An estimated one in four spine-related pain patients turned to CBD

Data published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery revealed that an estimated one in four patients with spine-related pain reported using CBD to combat symptoms.

Researchers anonymously surveyed patients at a spinal surgery clinic in New York for over a month. The survey was distributed by one out of nine spine surgeons at a single institution upon registration.

Patients were selected regardless of surgical status such as preoperative, postoperative or nonoperative. They consisted of multiple-choice questions. The researchers received 214 out of 300 completed surveys on spine-related pain.

The results

A quarter of participants said they had either tried CBD or were currently using it for symptom management. Nearly half of the users at 46 percent reported that it may have mitigated their pain.

When it came to pain, 66.7 percent said they used it for spine-related back pain, 37 percent for neck pain, 35.2 percent for leg pain and 9.3 percent for arm pain.

Users also turned to CBD with help sleeping with 25.9 percent saying it was improvements with insomnia. A further 33 percent said it had improved their sleep and 20 percent said it reduced their anxiety. A percentage also reported no benefit from CBD use with the most reported side effect being fatigue at 7.4 percent.

The spine-related pain participants tended to use oil two or three times a week after it was recommended by friends or family. Most users at 63 percent said they would recommend CBD to a friend for pain relief.

Learn more: Four ways women could benefit from CBD

Spine-related cannabis education

Authors said: “This is the first study, to our knowledge, to examine the consumption patterns and perceived effects of CBD in patients with spinal pathology. This investigation demonstrates that CBD is a prevalent alternative therapy used by many patients with spine-related symptoms.

“As the popularity of the supplement is only expected to increase over time, spine surgeons must educate themselves on the evidence behind the use of CBD, understand its legal status, and be aware of the potential for mislabeling of ingredients.”

Read more: When should you consider medical cannabis?