Cannabis for Treating Neuropathic Pain from Spinal Cord Injury: Findings from a Preliminary Study

Researchers from the University of Miami recently published results from their survey about spinal cord injury (SCI) and cannabinoids (1). In “A preliminary study evaluating self-reported effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on neuropathic pain and pain medication use in people with spinal cord injury,” researchers aimed to discover how individuals with spinal cord injuries viewed their neuropathic pain when using cannabinoids as a treatment, and if they were using cannabinoids in place of other pain medications (1). The abstract noted the difficulty in treating neuropathic pain and the need for research into alternatives to help improve quality of life for patients (1). The study was published in December 2023 in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research (1).

For the survey, 342 people were recruited and 227 of those were selected to participate in an anonymous survey online (1). Participants were asked about the characteristics of their injuries, pain intensity, and current pain medications (1). The average neuropathic pain over the past week was rated as “high moderate to severe,” (1). The survey also asked about the cannabinoids consumed including the type, consumption methods and frequency, strains, and negative side effects (1).

As noted in the study, a majority of participants who reported cannabis use also reported benefits from its use (1). “Additionally, 87.9% noted that cannabis reduced their neuropathic pain intensity by more than 30%, and 92.3% reported that cannabis helped them to better deal with their neuropathic pain symptoms,” the authors stated (1). “Most participants (83.3%) also reported substituting their pain medications with cannabis, with the most substituted medication categories being opioids (47.0%), gabapentinoids (42.8%) and over-the-counter pain medications (42.2%).”

The authors stated that this study was among the first of its kind and said it confirmed the need for larger studies in this area (1). “These preliminary results suggest that cannabis and cannabinoids may be effective in reducing neuropathic pain among those with SCI and may help to limit the need for certain pain medications,” the authors stated (1).

For a firsthand account of cannabis and spinal cord injuries, check out our interview series with the founders of the nonprofit Cannabis Patients Pacific Northwest.

Reference

1. Kinnunen, K.; Robayo, L. E.; Cherup, N. P.; Frank, S. I.; Widerström-Noga, E. A preliminary study evaluating self-reported effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on neuropathic pain and pain medication use in people with spinal cord injury. Frontiers in Pain Research 2023, 4 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1297223.