“In a word: life-changing.” This is just one user’s experience of adopting a CBD for fibromyalgia regimen, but we’ve come across countless other stories of symptom relief in our research to date. However, despite ample anecdotal evidence, to date scientific studies on the use of CBD for fibromyalgia are few and far between.
CBD for fibromyalgia at a glance
What the claims are: CBD helps reduce the chronic pain and discomfort caused by fibromyalgia. It can also ease other potential symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, and depression.
What the studies show: There is very little research about using CBD for fibromyalgia specifically. The one small study came away as inconclusive, showing no high-quality evidence that CBD impacted the symptoms of fibromyalgia. However, there is data on the effects of medical cannabis for fibromyalgia which shows that patients found a significant improvement in their symptoms, with few adverse effects.
What the facts say: While the little research on CBD for fibromyalgia thus far is inconclusive, there are good early indications that CBD does have a mitigating effect on hard-to-treat pain. There is also a lot of evidence suggesting it can be of help with sleeplessness and fatigue, both of which are associated with this disorder. Between that and the amount of anecdotal evidence on this topic, it’s clear that more clinical studies specifically on this disorder are necessary to determine the long-term efficacy of using CBD for fibromyalgia.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, problems remembering things, and, oftentimes, emotional and/or mood issues. People suffering from this condition may also be more sensitive to pain than others.
Fibromyalgia affects about 2% of the adult population in the United States alone. While anyone can get fibromyalgia, women are twice as likely to develop this disorder as men. The cause is unknown, but the following risk factors can trigger the onset of symptoms:
- Potential genetic mutations, as fibromyalgia tends to run in families
- Some illnesses and infections
- Trauma (physical or emotional)
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are bad enough, but some people also experience tingling of extremities, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), and digestive problems.
On an emotional level, this particular condition can be especially devastating as it is impossible to conclusively diagnose with one specific test. This leads to those who claim that fibromyalgia could be psychosomatic, which in turn makes many people suffering from this disorder feel as if they’re not being taken seriously.
There are countless articles about the stigma of fibromyalgia and other difficult to diagnose, hard to treat pain disorders, and the effect that can have on a person’s psyche. Between that and the chronic pain, it’s easy to see why depression and anxiety often coexist with fibromyalgia.
How CBD can be used to help with fibromyalgia?
Our endocannabinoid systems regulate a host of different cognitive and physiological functions, including our moods and pain sensitivity. Because CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with our bodies’ own cannabinoid receptors, evidence shows that it can have a beneficial effect on both chronic pain and depression, which are associated with this disorder.
The great part about CBD for fibromyalgia is that, due to its many uses, it might also help with a number of other potential symptoms as well. Many people who use CBD to lessen pain might find that it also makes them feel calmer, less fatigued, and can even reduce that pins and needles feeling some people suffering from fibromyalgia get in their extremities.
Throughout our research, we found the most common theme was that a regular, consistent regimen produces the best results. While taking CBD during a particularly bad flare-up can help ease pain, taking it regularly seems to lower the frequency of flare-ups and mitigate the severity of symptoms when they do occur.
What are the risks of using CBD for fibromyalgia?
There aren’t many downsides of trying CBD for fibromyalgia. CBD is generally well-tolerated by most adults and has very few potential side effects. Those that can present include dry mouth, lightheadedness, and drowsiness.
With the proliferation of addictive pain medications, many people find it comforting to know that CBD is not considered to have addictive properties. It’s also important to note that the long-term effects of using CBD for fibromyalgia aren’t known at this time.
We also like to point out that a CBD for fibromyalgia regimen might not work for everyone. While we’ve heard some amazing stories of people who have found total relief from their symptoms, we’ve also read posts from people who find no relief at all from using solely CBD for fibromyalgia.
When browsing products, it’s important to pay close attention to labels and user reviews. All CBD products are not created equal. Make sure to research and find the best brands. And, if you do make a purchase, remember to be consistent and give it the opportunity to get into your system and do its job.
Should I give CBD for fibromyalgia a try?
Many people suffering from fibromyalgia are finding that CBD can manage their pain and help with fatigue while also helping them sleep better and feel calmer. No two people are the same, so it makes sense to speak to your doctor about the potential benefits of CBD for fibromyalgia before you try it.
