Causes and Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

• Herniated discs. If the discs that cushion the vertebrae become cracked, the material inside can seep out and press on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Injuries. An accident can fracture or inflame a portion of the spine.
• Osteophytes. Bones and joints enlarge as a result of the degeneration of joint cartilage, and bone spurs can form.
• Paget’s disease. A condition that affects bone growth. This disease causes bones to be brittle, abnormally large and misshapen, and can result in a narrowing of the spinal canal.
• Spondylolisthesis. The slipping of one vertebra onto another, usually in the base of the spine, that leads to compression.
• Tumors. A cancerous growth can touch, or pinch, the spinal cord.

Treatments for Spinal Stenosis

Home Care

• Apply heat and cold. Heat helps loosens muscles, cold helps heal inflammation. Hot showers can also be helpful.
• Exercise that is moderate and not strenuous. Sometimes just a 30-minute walk every other day can be beneficial. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting any new exercise plan.
• Lose weight. The more weight one carries, the more pressure is placed on the back.
• Practice good posture. Stand up straight, sit on a supportive chair, and sleep on a firm mattress. Lift heavy objects bending from the knees, not the back.

• Medications

  Your doctor may prescribe:
  • Pain relievers. Pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be used temporarily to ease the discomfort of spinal stenosis. They are typically recommended for a short time only, since there’s little evidence of benefit from long-term use.
  • Anesthetics. Used with precision, an injection of a “nerve block” can stop the pain for a time.
  • Antidepressants. Nightly doses of tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, can help ease chronic pain.
  • Anti-seizure drugs. Some anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica), can help reduce the pain caused by damaged nerves.
  • Steroid injections. The injection of steroid medication (corticosteroid) into the space around pinched nerves can help reduce the inflammation and relieve some pain. When severe, an epidural steroid injection places a powerful anti-inflammatory medication near the affected nerves to reduce pain. However, the treatment does not fix the stenosis. Injections are limited to a few times a year, because repeated use can weaken nearby bones and connective tissue.

  • Spinal Stenosis Treatments Resources

    Spinal Stenosis (Mayo Clinic) Spinal Stenosis (Cleveland Clinic) What is Spinal Stenosis? (WebMD) 5 Things About Spinal Stenosis You Need to Know (Spine Universe) Spinal Stenosis: Lumbar and Cervical (Spine Universe) Minimally Invasive Procedure (Science Daily)

Rick Simpson is a household name in every marijuana dispensary across the county. The man claimed to be the creator of Rick Simpson Oil, as it is dubbed by legendary marijuana advocate Jack Herer, The Emperor of Hemp. I was not sure what to expect of Rick. My experience has taught me that people with wild ideas regardless of if they are positive or negative or real/fiction these people have something unique and special about them that tends to make them quirky. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Rick. I was once a skeptic of any alternative medicine. Today, I advocate an alternative medicine as one of the most prominent medical marijuana Doctors in Florida and across the country advocating the field of “Allopathic & Osteopathic Marijuana Medicine” (can we just lump the two together into allopathic, my osteopathic colleagues?). There have been things that I’ve seen in my patients that I would have considered to be miracles in my past career. Mr. Simpson said the word a lot during our conversation. Unlike when other alternative medicine proponents claim a cure for cancer, this time around… I think there may be some truth to this.  Researchers have known for decades that cannabis inhibits cancer growth. Like this article, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute all the way back in nineteen seventy-five. Mice with tumors treated with THC and CBN had decreased tumor growth and increased mortality. These studies were done using isolated cannabinoids. Now imagine if the “Entourage Effect” were in play – the theory that combinations of cannabinoids working in unison have a greater effect than the sum of their individual cannabinoids. Isn’t it interesting that medical marijuana does not cause head and neck cancer or decreased lung function or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even though it contains similar carcinogens and three times the tar when smoked? This may very well be due to the anti-cancer properties of cannabinoids that are present with marijuana smoke! In regards to cancer, CBD has little effect. While Rick believes that Cannabis Indica strains are preferred for their therapeutic effect, it seems that the reason for that is their higher THC concentration. We both agreed that CBD is not as important for antineoplastic (anticancer) activity. In fact, it can pretty much be left out says a few marijuana doctors near me. Now, there is some in RSO and in most cannabis. It may actually have a beneficial effect against the cancer, too, but compared to THC it is really negligible. I knew from prior reading and discussion with patients that RSO is essentially highly-concentrated THC marijuana extract. I also knew from reading the scientific literature that THC appears to have the majority of anti-tumor effects. CBD, on the other hand, has properties that contribute to marijuana’s efficacy, but mostly for other conditions like pain, nausea, and the short-term adverse effects of THC. CBD causes THC to work on pain so there may be a component of it working on cancer. Rick did confirm to me the need to titrate doses as high as possible in patients with cancer (unlike pain). Rick Simpson is a genuine and honest man that is transparent about his views. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for Rick Simpson. He holds a lot of skepticism when viewing the medical cannabis community’s trends in belief. I always respect someone with that kind of outlook on life. It’s the only thing keeping us from being swept away by fanciful hopes and dreams cemented into our brains as truth through repeated confirmation bias. Eventually, the cognitive dissonance becomes irreversible.

Cannabidiol is a compound derived from cannabis plants. It may help people with anxiety reduce their symptoms with few or no side effects. Research on cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) is still in its infancy, but there is mounting evidence to suggest that some people can get relief from anxiety. In this article, we examine what CBD oil is and how it may help reduce anxiety symptoms.

What is CBD Oil?

Cannabidiol is extracted from cannabis plants and can be used as an oil. CBD oil is rich in chemicals called cannabinoids that bind to specialized receptors in the brain.

The best-known cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the “high” people feel after using marijuana.

THC, however, is just one of many cannabinoids. Cannabidiol also binds to these receptors but does not produce a high. Proponents argue that cannabidiol oil has many health benefits, ranging from slowing the growth of cancer to improved mental health. CBD oil is edible and can be used as a cooking oil or added to food. People may also take it as a medication by consuming a few drops. CBD oil should not be smoked, and there is no evidence that smoking it offers any benefits.

Does CBD produce a high?

CBD oil derived from hemp will not produce a “high.” Hemp is a type of cannabis plant grown for industrial use, such as making paper and clothing. Unlike other cannabis plants, hemp has not been specially bred to produce high levels of THC. Cannabidiol may be sold as a type of hemp oil with trace amounts of THC. So, someone using cannabidiol might still test positive for THC on a drug test, even though they will not experience any alterations of mental state after using the oil. Some studies have found that cannabis might help anxiety. Others suggest that having anxiety is a risk factor for recreational marijuana use, or that using marijuana can make a person more vulnerable to anxiety. People interested in managing their anxiety with CBD oil should look exclusively at research on cannabidiol, not generalized studies of medical marijuana. Although there are fewer studies on cannabidiol specifically, the preliminary research is promising. A small 2010 study found that cannabidiol could reduce symptoms of social anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Brain scans of participants revealed changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain linked to feelings of anxiety. In this study, cannabidiol not only made participants feel better but also changed the way their brains responded to anxiety. A 2011 study also found that cannabidiol could reduce social anxiety. For that study, researchers looked specifically at cannabidiol to treat anxiety associated with public speaking said a few marijuana doctors in my area. Research published in 2014 found that CBD oil had anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects in an animal model. A 2015 analysis of previous studies concluded that CBD oil is a promising treatment for numerous forms of anxiety, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The report cautioned, however, that data on long-term use of CBD oil is limited. While research strongly points to the role of cannabidiol in treating short-term anxiety, little is known about its long-term effects, or how it can be used as a prolonged treatment. A 2016 case study explored whether cannabidiol could reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety-provoked sleep disorder in a child with a history of trauma. Researchers found that cannabidiol reduced the child’s anxiety and helped her sleep. Research on the use of cannabis suggests that it may have negative health effects, particularly when smoked. Research specifically on cannabidiol, however, has found few or no negative side effects. This means CBD oil may be a good option for people who do not tolerate the side effects of other medications for anxiety, including addiction. Not all states in the United States have specifically legalized CBD oil, although some have legalized it for only specific purposes. A person should educate themselves about the potential risks of purchasing or using it. While CBD oil is not listed on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), a person should consult their doctor before using it to treat anxiety. Because CBD oil is not regulated as a medical treatment for anxiety, it is unclear what dosage a person should use, or how frequently they should use it. A person should consult a doctor who has experience with CBD oil to determine the right dosage for their needs.