Image: Shutterstock/Gordon Swanson
Many people who have fibromyalgia also report that they feel a constant itching sensation. It doesn’t seem to be caused by any irritation of the skin but is rather just a persistent itchiness that can occur all over the body. And for many people, fibromyalgia itching is worse than the pain.
The constant itch is incredibly frustrating and close to impossible to satisfy. And that leads to many people scratching until they break the skin, which leads to infections. Unfortunately, this kind of chronic itching is not understood very well by science. And fibro itching, in particular, is not the target of much research by most medical researchers.
But with marijuana increasingly being accepted as a medication, many wonder if it can help treat fibromyalgia itching. So what exactly is fibro itching? And can marijuana help?
What Is Fibromyalgia Itching?
Fibro itching is something that affects many people with fibromyalgia. And while usually itching is caused by irritated skin, people with fibromyalgia get the feeling of itching for seemingly no reason. Many find that the itching comes and goes, but some feel it nearly all the time.
No one is sure what causes it, but this kind of chronic itching is actually common in many chronic pain disorders. And some doctors think that the itching is the result of the same over-active nerves that cause these disorders. They believe that the nerves are sending itching signals to the brain by mistake, which causes the chronic itching feeling.
Can Marijuana Help?
Marijuana is increasingly gaining acceptance as an effective treatment for many chronic health conditions. And there is some evidence that marijuana can help cure itching in some conditions, especially psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to be produced too quickly, which results in scaly, itchy skin.
Scientists have studied marijuana as a treatment for this condition and found that it is effective. And it is also effective in treating chronic itching caused by liver disease. So certainly, some forms of itching are treatable with cannabis.
Unfortunately, there isn’t that much understanding about how exactly cannabis stops itching. It seems like the most logical explanation is that it stops nerve cells from interacting with each other.
As far as fibromyalgia itching goes, little to no research exists on how effective cannabis is. And for many people, marijuana can actually cause itching. This is especially true for people who are allergic to cannabis.
So is marijuana effective for fibromyalgia itching? It’s tough to say. It does seem to help with certain itching disorders, but it isn’t clear that this is one of them. However, if it works with other conditions that cause chronic itching, it stands to reason that it could be effective. It’s certainly worth pursuing as an option.
How Can You Get Prescribed Marijuana For Fibromyalgia Itching?
The first thing you need to ask when trying to get a prescription for medical marijuana is whether or not your state allows it. There are currently twenty-three states where doctors can prescribe it. So if you want to get a medical marijuana prescription, you have to first establish residency in that state with your doctor according to the law.
Then, all you have to do is discuss it with your doctor like you would any other condition. Your doctor will determine if medical marijuana is a good choice for you and then give you a prescription like with any drug.
Then you will have to go to a legally licensed dispensary to obtain your medication. Be careful when choosing a strain that you tell the staff if you are a first time user. The THC content varies substantially among different strains, and starting with too much THC can cause panic attacks which can be psychologically traumatizing.
With that being said, marijuana for medical purposes has been determined to be safe for most patients. Though people with pre-existing mental health conditions might want to think carefully before trying it.
Is Marijuana Effective For Other Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia?
Marijuana is gaining a lot of acceptance as an effective medical option for people with chronic pain diseases like fibromyalgia. And there’s a lot of evidence that THC-derived medications can be at least as effective as opioid pain relievers in treating fibromyalgia pain.
A study in Germany found that forty subjects with fibromyalgia reported significantly reduced pain after taking cannabis-based medications over the period of a month. So as far as chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia go, marijuana seems to be an effective treatment for a lot of people.
So if you’re suffering from the chronic pain of fibromyalgia without really finding an effective treatment, it might be worth considering medical marijuana.
But aa lot of people with diseases like fibromyalgia worry about using marijuana because they don’t want to take a psychoactive drug like marijuana. And that’s a valid concern. People who are likely to abuse drugs might worry that using medical marijuana might lead to addiction, which is more of a concern with marijuana than people in the media often argue. And using psychoactive drugs like marijuana always carries specific risks. Not to mention that some people simply don’t enjoy the feeling of being high.
And using psychoactive drugs like marijuana always carries specific risks. Not to mention that some people simply don’t enjoy the feeling of being high.
With that being said, medical marijuana can be used without getting you high, and thus it might still be worth a try if that’s a concern. It’s up to you to way the risks and benefits with your doctor. Be honest with your medical provider about your concerns and listen to their opinion about whether marijuana might be an effective treatment for your fibromyalgia itching.
But let us know, do you have fibromyalgia itching? What works for you? And is marijuana something that you think would be willing to try? Finally, if you have tried it, how did it go?
Let us know in the comments. Your experiences could really help people who suffer from chronic itching with their fibromyalgia.
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