Many people associate marijuana with recreational use, but in recent years, the plant’s medicinal uses have taken the spotlight. While the United States has long considered marijuana an illegal substance, most states now have laws allowing for the legal purchase and use of medical marijuana. Suppose you wonder, “Can marijuana help with headaches, anxiety, PTSD, stress, and chronic pain?” Medical marijuana can provide many benefits for chronic anxiety and pain when used as prescribed by a medical professional and obtained through legal means.
In this article, we’ll discover the different uses of medical marijuana and how it changes patients’ lives throughout the country. You’ll learn the benefits of using medical marijuana, the downsides, and why you need to strictly follow the prescription.
Comparing CBD and THC
If you walk into many gas stations and convenience stores in the U.S., you’ll likely see various choices for CBD consumption. CBD may look like oil drops, pills, or smokable herb nuggets. Besides its ease of use and accessibility, CBD has a legal status throughout the country.
CBD and THC come from the marijuana plant, both providing multiple benefits for users, including:
- Easier sleep
- Pain relief
- Anxiety control
- Increased appetite
- Seizure management
The most significant difference lies in THC’s high, which CBD does not provide. Medical marijuana patients may receive a THC prescription so low that they may not get high, another benefit for those who dislike the psychoactive effects THC usually gives.
How Do You Get a Prescription for Medical Marijuana in New York?
To obtain a prescription for medical marijuana in New York, start with a visit to a doctor who offers the treatment and can guide you on proper use. You’ll need to provide your legal identification and discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Your practitioner may suggest trying other medicines at first, but if you feel that medical marijuana will help you best, continue to advocate for it.
Once your doctor prescribes medical marijuana, you’ll receive a medical marijuana I.D. card to prove your legal use. You can then take your card to a local medical marijuana dispensary and begin your usage. Some medical marijuana prescriptions come with 30- or 60-day refills, while others may require a call or visit to your doctor for your next prescription.
What Health Conditions Can Medical Marijuana Help With?
Many mental, emotional, and physical conditions show positive responses to controlled medical marijuana use. New York’s Medical Cannabis Program lists many health conditions for eligibility, including the following:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Epilepsy
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Neuropathy
- Alzheimer’s
- Muscular dystrophy
- Autism
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Regardless of whether you found your condition on the list above, your doctor can recommend medical marijuana for your health problems.
Medical Marijuana for Anxiety
Many patients turn to medical marijuana for anxiety. Because anxiety takes many forms, the dosage and strain may differ from patient to patient. Understanding how to use medical marijuana for anxiety problems helps you treat symptoms while working on finding the source of your anxiety.
PTSD and Medical Marijuana
Some studies indicate that medical marijuana may reduce symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Besides lessening anxiety, medical marijuana also helps PTSD patients find relief from traumatic memories. Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Irritability
- Flashbacks
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Bursts of anger
People living with PTSD using medical marijuana reported that they experienced fewer panic attacks and would use medical marijuana when a panic attack set in.
Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain
Many conditions cause chronic pain, forcing patients to turn to prescription medication for relief. Pain management often includes using dangerously addictive painkillers, which may create new problems for patients in pain. Medical marijuana presents a safer alternative with a lower chance of addiction.
Some patients use medical marijuana for chronic pain that manifests as migraines. Treating migraine pain has long resulted in bedrest in a dark and quiet room, waiting for the pain to cease. Today, migraine patients can use medical marijuana to help them through the attack.
Patients using medical marijuana to treat migraines should follow careful dosing to protect against rebound headaches once the marijuana wears off.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) About Medical Marijuana Use in New York
Learn about the use of medical marijuana in NYC and other New York cities.
Is medical marijuana legal?
In New York, medical marijuana is legal so long as you maintain your registration and documentation with New York’s Medical Cannabis Program.
How can I use medical marijuana?
Patients using medical marijuana can smoke, vaporize, or eat the substance. Ask your doctor which method might work best for your particular health problems.
Can I grow my medical cannabis?
As of October 5, 2022, patients and caregivers with the proper documentation may grow medical marijuana in their homes so long as they meet the following requirements:
- Must be age 21 or older
- Must be for personal medical use only
- Must maintain their registration with New York’s Medical Cannabis Program
Patients with medical marijuana certifications can grow six total plants, three mature and three immature, and may ingest their dosage through smoking, edibles, or other approved methods.
Does medical marijuana remove my condition?
Medical marijuana cannot stop a chronic condition from recurring. Using this substance works fine for pain management, but if you have neurological problems, the drug may only mask symptoms while the source of the problem worsens.
Can I self-medicate and skip the prescription?
Self-medicating often leads to overusing marijuana. In addition, without the proper documentation, you have to use illegal methods to obtain and use the drug.
Does medical marijuana have side effects?
Recreational and medicinal use of marijuana leads to similar side effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Bloodshot eyes
- Poor judgment
- Poor coordination
Some patients reported side effects that could inhibit the effectiveness of medical marijuana for PTSD patients, such as depression and hallucinations.
Smoking marijuana may also lead to lung damage, similar to smoking cigarettes. Patients prone to bronchitis or other respiratory conditions should consider ingesting marijuana differently than smoking it.
Are There Other Ways To Treat My Health Conditions?
If you’re searching for an answer to “Can medical marijuana help with headaches, anxiety, PTSD, stress, and chronic pain,” you have probably tried various ways to get help. A visit to your family doctor may not give you the necessary answers, leaving you to find your own way to relieve anxiety problems or chronic pain. Neuro Injury Care Institute of New York can help if you need expert medical attention for neurological conditions.
What Is a Neurological Condition?
A neurological condition affects the functionality of your brain and nervous system and may come from genetics, injuries, illnesses, or emotional trauma. Some conditions alleviated through psychological treatment may have a neurological source, such as PTSD. Neuro Injury Care Institute treats neurological health problems, regardless of the cause.
What Services Does Neuro Injury Care Institute Offer?
Whether you come to us with an injury or genetic condition, the Neuro Injury Care Institute doctors provide diagnosis and treatment services. Our focus remains on improving patients’ quality of life while lowering dependence on prescription drugs. We also explore every option before surgery, sparing many patients from unneeded and invasive operations.
After establishing themselves with our office, patients with mobility issues or who wish to remain at home can make use of our telemedicine services, during which we can perform the following:
- Medication adjustments and refills
- Follow-up questions and discussions
- Test result discussions
Diagnostics
Some disorders and symptoms fall under the umbrella of other conditions, masking the true source of the problem. With the expertise of our skilled neurologists, we can help discover the underlying cause for common medical symptoms like:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
Your diagnostic appointment at Neuro Injury Care Institute may include tests and examinations designed to search for nerve disorders, brain or heart dysfunction, and other physical ailments. Many patients find that their physical conditions influence their thinking, feeling, and acting. With the correct diagnosis, our medical professionals can work with you to provide treatment and guidance on how to cope with your condition.
Some steps often taken during diagnostic exams include:
- Medical history review
- Medical exam
- Interviews or written questionnaires
- Mobility testing
- Electromyography tests
- Electroencephalogram test
Treatments
While medical marijuana seems helpful in treating many neurological problems, it may also trigger other issues or worsen your condition. Understanding your anxiety or chronic health issue through diagnosis and follow-up with the proper medical treatment can help you avoid medical marijuana’s downsides. Neuro Injury Care Institute offers treatment for many neurological disorders, including:
Chronic Migraines
Migraines cause a number of problems when they occur, and many chronic migraine sufferers often feel debilitated by the pain. While some confuse headaches and migraines, migraines cause much more pain in addition to symptoms like:
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Dizziness
- Disorientation
- Inability to sleep
- Nausea and vomiting
Treating migraines remains challenging for all healthcare providers, and you should note that even medical marijuana may not completely remove the pain. However, our specialists can help you learn methods to help manage chronic migraines. We use two approaches to help treat and lessen your migraines:
- Lifestyle changes, including weight loss, stress management, and mood disorder treatment
- Medication, including preventative medicines like monthly injections or daily medications
Sciatic Nerve Pain
Your sciatic nerve runs from your spine down into your legs. Sometimes, this nerve suffers pinching, compression, or inflammation, often caused by a slipped or herniated disk. If you irritate your sciatic nerve, you may feel numbness, weakness, or pain throughout your back, legs, and feet.
With the expert doctors at Neuro Injury Care Institute, most sciatica patients feel an improvement within six weeks. Sciatic nerve pain treatment may include:
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Alternative therapies
- Therapeutic injections
Sleep Disorders
We depend on sleep for much more than feeling rested. Good sleep produces clearer thinking, better decision-making, faster reflexes, and a better mood. Sleep disorders wreck your rest, causing you to spend the day exhausted and possibly over-reliant on caffeinated drinks.
Insomnia may occur due to common sleep disorders, including restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea. Others may count insomnia among the many symptoms of PTSD or other mood disorders.
Insomnia causes many problems in your life, including:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Impaired driving
- Poor school or work performance
To properly treat sleep disorders, our team digs into your medical history and learns what potential conditions might cause your insomnia. The various treatments for sleep disorders include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Cutting back on caffeine
- Behavioral therapy
- Bright light therapy
- CPAP machine (for sleep apnea)
- Sleeping medication
Neurological Care for Injuries Related to Car Accidents or Workplace Incidents
While the human body has impressive resilience, injuries that cause severe and sometimes permanent neurological damage often occur during car accidents or workplace incidents. Besides offering comprehensive neurological care for both types of injuries, Neuro Injury Care Institute also accepts workers’ compensation and no-fault auto accident insurance.
Some patients believe they don’t need to see a neurologist, but catching neurological damage early can stop it from becoming a lifelong problem. While your injuries may not have occurred directly to your nerves, the surrounding tissue may suffer inflammation and cause significant nerve pain. Numbness, chronic pain, and weakness all indicate a neurological injury.
Neuro Injury Care Institute doctors have specialized experience diagnosing and treating neurological injuries resulting from car accidents or workplace injuries. Whether your back won’t stop hurting or you have trouble controlling your fingers, the Neuro Injury Care Institute experts can help.
Why Contact Neuro Injury Care Institute Before Turning to Medical Marijuana
When dealing with an exceptional amount of anxiety or pain, you may believe your search for “Can medical marijuana help with headaches, anxiety, PTSD, stress, and chronic pain” offers the only hope you have. With the experienced neuropathologists at Neuro Injury Care Institute, we can help you track down the source of your pain and treat it the right way. Book an appointment today and let us help you feel better.
