Do You Know the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pain?

Do you understand the distinction between acute and chronic pain? Now that the Legislature has added acute pain to the list of Medical Cannabis qualifying ailments, you may be eligible for a Medical Marijuana Card in the future.

There are several limitations to using Medical Cannabis to treat acute pain. Still, including severe pain on the list is a significant step forward. We are delighted that the legislature has taken this step. With that in mind, let us discuss acute and chronic pain.

Pain that lasts more than two weeks

Legislators agreed that discomfort lasting longer than two weeks was the beginning point for defining chronic pain in state law. That's all right. Other states do not consider pain to be chronic until it lasts three weeks. Chronic pain, in any case, is pain that lasts for a lengthy period of time.

It could happen every day. However, a patient may only have discomfort every few days. The important thing is that it lasts longer than two weeks. This is when things become complicated. The two-week criterion is likewise used as the beginning point for qualifying acute discomfort in the most recent regulation amendment.

The statute expressly stipulates that individuals who expect to be in extreme pain for longer than two weeks may be eligible for a temporary Medical Cannabis card. The source of acute discomfort is what distinguishes it. It is not the product of a long-term sickness. It is the outcome of a sudden incident, such as an injury or surgery.

Opioids are used to treat pain.

It's worth noting that the new guideline clearly lists surgery as a qualified cause of acute discomfort. Even while operations are designed to assist in the long run, their very nature causes harm. Consider getting a hip replacement. There is no way around it: in order to replace a hip, the surgeon must harm existing tissue. Recovering from such a big operation may be excruciatingly uncomfortable.

In terms of management, acute pain is equally as likely as chronic pain to be managed with opioids. It's no surprise that the new law mentions opioid therapy as well.

Patients who expect to be in pain for more than two weeks following surgery may be eligible for a temporary Medical Cannabis card if their pain would otherwise have been managed with opioids. Changing the qualifying criteria list essentially provides patients with a second alternative. They are not required to use narcotic medicines if they do not choose to.

Discuss Pain with Your Provider

If you are contemplating Medical Cannabis for chronic pain or anticipate acute pain as a consequence of a future occurrence, we encourage you to discuss your choices with your medical physician. You may not have to rely on ineffective over-the-counter drugs. You may not need to fill an opioid prescription to find relief. Medical marijuana may be your greatest option for pain relief.

How does cannabis help with pain management?

Modern science and study are facilitating comprehension of exactly how Cannabis works on the Endocannabinoid system, brains, and nerves to cure various health issues and other qualifying medical conditions as research on Cannabis and its related advantages grows.

The cannabis plant, which is high in naturally occurring cannabinoid chemicals, has the potential to cure a wide range of pains with a single, safe, and easy treatment. Medical cannabis may make this possible because to the many terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, which may directly target numerous receptor systems.

And when it comes to chronic pain management, it may have a big influence on your whole quality of life, so it has to be done right. The source of persistent pain may include

For legal purposes, chronic and acute pain are characterised differently. However, in terms of administration and therapy, they both qualify for Medical Cannabis under certain conditions. We think this is a terrific idea, and we expect many patients will agree.