Can CBD Oil Help Sciatica?

CBD is commonly used to treat joint-related pain, muscle pain, and in some cases, chronic pain. But can CBD oil help sciatica? Sciatic pain can be very debilitating. It’s difficult to explain how this type of pain can affect someone’s day to day life or exactly what the pain feels like. It can range from mild to severe and can resolve on its own without serious medical intervention, in a period of a few weeks. However, home treatment can be difficult and is not always very effective. That’s where CBD oil comes in.

Can CBD oil help sciatica? It can. CBD will work to relieve pain and inflammation by binding with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors found in the endocannabinoid system. However, even though CBD products can help to minimize both pain and inflammation, it cannot work to fully relieve the symptoms associated with sciatica. Instead, CBD should be used in addition to standard pain and NSAID treatment for the most effective results.

While CBD can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of sciatica, it will not work effectively in terms of acting as a standalone treatment. Continue reading to learn how CBD works and how you can incorporate it into your daily sciatica treatment regimen.

What Causes Sciatica?

Because sciatica pain is often caused by a herniated disc or bone spur, CBD cannot actually rid you of sciatic pain for good. In cases such as these, surgery may be the best solution. However, CBD use can provide much-needed relief and pain-free days in which you’re able to get out of bed and go to work, or carry out the tasks that you were unable to due to sciatic pain. CBD products can treat a couple of different types of pain, including nociceptive and neuropathic. Unfortunately, research is very limited in terms of knowing exactly how CBD can alleviate both nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. So, how does CBD work exactly? CBD works by binding with the CB1 and CB2 receptors found in the endocannabinoid system, which is what’s responsible for sending signals throughout the body. When CBD attaches to these receptors, it’s able to change the bad signals sent to good ones, essentially restoring the balance in the body. Cannabinoids have been proven to help the body to heal from a wide range of health issues and can work by first focusing on treating the inflammation. The fact that it focuses on inflammation management is one of the main reasons it’s often recommended for sciatic pain treatment. Since there isn’t enough research just yet that can show us how CBD can manage sciatic pain for the long term there’s enough evidence to tell us that the results are very promising

The Sciatic Nerves

There are two sciatic nerves that run from the base of the spine and down the legs. When they’re functioning correctly, the nerves control the toes, feet, ankles, and legs. Unfortunately, like most types of pain, sciatic pain will follow inflammation. Because of this, it’s interesting to consider how CBD oil can be effectively used to manage this type of pain.

How Sciatic Pain Begins

When a sciatic nerve is pinched you may feel severe pain in the lower back or in either leg. In rare cases, it can affect both legs at the same time. A pinched nerve usually occurs due to diabetes, bone spurs, or a herniated disc. It can also occur due to certain conditions that impact the nerves, such as stenosis, a traumatic injury, or even osteoarthritis.  Often, physical therapy and exercise are prescribed to relieve mild pain due to a pinched nerve. Regular exercise can minimize the stress of contributing factors. However, in cases of moderate to severe pain, prescription medication may be required. This can include anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and opioids. Surgery may be required in certain cases.

Care Alternatives

People suffering from sciatica have experienced positive results with the use of hot or cold treatments, but for some, CBD has been a better alternative. Other treatment options include:

When first seeking treatment for sciatica, a doctor will typically prescribe anti-inflammatories. However, NSAIDs are not able to eliminate nociceptive pain. The neuropathic pain is usually treated with the aid of anticonvulsants or antidepressants.  Both types of drugs can come with their own set of side effects, especially if they’re used over a long period of time. These side effects can include ulcers, liver damage, and heart attacks.  Both classes of drugs have significant side effects, particularly when used over the long term to treat chronic pain. Side effects can include ulcers, heart attack, and liver damage. CBD can reduce both nociceptive and neuropathic pain while reducing inflammation, and all without the chance of experiencing severe side effects.  CBD is able to do this by working with the endocannabinoid system in the body. However, research in terms of the full effects of CBD use in the treatment of sciatica is still in its early stages. Additionally, the role of other types of cannabinoids, such as THC, in regard to modulating pain, is still actively being studied. While the endocannabinoid system is one factor in terms of the modulation of pain, CBD often works the best when used with other types of traditional medications.  For some, surgery is the only effective course of treatment.  CBD is often used by patients who prefer to treat their pain using herbal home remedies.

A Deeper Look at CBD and its Role in Sciatica Treatment

CBD is the leading cannabinoid in cannabis. It’s not able to cure sciatic pain. Meaning it cannot make you lose weight, it cannot fix a herniated disc, it cannot correct spondylolisthesis, or get rid of your arthritis. However, it can help to ease many of the symptoms associated with sciatica such as pain and inflammation. CBD oil use for sciatica treatment has been shown to reduce the need for stronger pain management options and is considered a more safe alternative compared to opioid use.

CBD Treatment

Genuine CBD products contain a natural CBD isolate that’s extracted from hemp without the use of harmful chemicals. The oil should be third-party tested to confirm its quality and potency. It should also contain zero percent THC, which is what makes CBD oil use legal in all fifty states.  CBD oil is extracted using natural carbon dioxide. If done correctly, you’ll enjoy a more potent product that includes essential vitamins, fatty acids, terpenes, and cannabinoids.  For immediate relief, CBD can be taken sublingually. This is done with the use of products such as Diamond CBD Full Spectrum MCT Hemp Oil. The oil is placed under the tongue for a faster acting time. When taken this way, the oil is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream where it will begin taking effect. However, it can also be applied topically to painful areas, which can also be a very effective route for sciatica sufferers.

How CBD Will Impact Sciatica Pain

Because sciatica pain is often caused by a herniated disc or bone spur, CBD cannot actually rid you of sciatic pain for good. In cases such as these, surgery may be the best solution. However, CBD use can provide much needed relief and pain free days in which you’re able to get out of bed and go to work, or carry out the tasks that you were unable to due to sciatic pain. CBD products can treat a couple of different types of pain, including nociceptive and neuropathic. Unfortunately, research is very limited in terms of knowing exactly how CBD can alleviate both nociceptive pain and neuropathic. So, how does CBD work exactly? CBD works by binding with the CB1 and CB2 receptors found in the endocannabinoid system, which is what’s responsible for sending signals throughout the body. When CBD attaches to these receptors, it’s able to change the bad signals sent to good ones, essentially restoring the balance in the body. Cannabinoids have been proven to help the body to heal from a wide range of health issues and can work by first focusing on treating the inflammation. The fact that it focuses on inflammation management is one of the main reasons it’s often recommended for sciatic pain management. Since there isn’t enough research just yet that can show us how CBD can manage sciatic pain for the long term there’s enough evidence to tell us that the results are very promising, even in severe cases. But again, CBD use isn’t a cure for sciatica. Instead, it’s simply one of the top pain and inflammation management options available. If you’re tired of using prescription or over the counter pain killers and you’re in need of a natural, safe way to treat pain, CBD oil can be the answer.

Meet With Your Physician for Treatment Information

It’s important to consult your physician prior to CBD use, especially if you’re considering stopping any prescribed pain medication. Your doctor can guide you in terms of proper dosing and can determine whether or not the addition of CBD can have an impact on your current medication regimen. In many cases, your doctor will recommend taking CBD oil sublingually, for faster relief. However, some may also recommend using a topical CBD cream or lotion. These topicals can be rubbed directly onto the affected parts of the body. However, they do not provide the same type of long-lasting relief that CBD oils can. In fact, many topicals will stop working after a couple of hours.  If you decide to go with a topical to treat your sciatica, then choose a product that has a higher potency, around one thousand milligrams. It’s important to note that if the CBD product contains menthol you must make sure you wash your hands immediately after application. Touching your eyes or other parts of your body without washing your hands can spread the cream.

Related Questions

Can I Use CBD for Skin Inflammation?

Yes. CBD can actually be used to treat a wide range of skin conditions ranging from psoriasis to eczema. This is because cannabinoids contain anti-inflammatory properties that make them beneficial for treatment. Of course, topical creams and lotions will not be nearly as potent as  CBD oil and will have an active life of just two to three hours, however, they’re a much safer alternative than steroid use. Additionally, CBD topicals do not cause the skin to dry out or other unwanted side effects like many prescription topicals can. To learn more, click here to read my article on why CBD is good for your skin.

Can CBD Be Used as an Alternative to Opioid Use?

Research has shown us that CBD use can work to enhance pain blocking power compared to some types of opioids. This can allow some sciatica sufferers to slowly reduce the amount of opioids used daily. As you may or may not know, over time, opioids tend to lose their effectiveness as the body begins to build a tolerance for them. This can result in a person having to take a higher dosage of opioids a day to manage their pain. With the addition of CBD, you can gradually lower your daily dosage of prescription pain medication and use a much safer, non-habit forming alternative.

Final Thoughts

So, can CBD help with sciatica? It can. But it’s not typically recommended as the standalone treatment. The best CBD drops will be the most effective when used in conjunction with traditional medications used to treat pain and inflammation. It can also help you reduce the amount of prescription pain medication and anti-inflammatories, both of which can cause unwanted side effects when used for a long period of time. In the end, CBD is one of the most effective and safest treatment options available for sciatica patients and it’s one that won’t cause side effects, dependency, or health complications, later down the line.