Top Cannabis Strains For CRPS: Reviews And Comparison
Even though no current studies exist for the top strains for relieving CRPS pain symptoms, there are several superb cannabis strains that medical journals are reporting that pain patients of various types of pain are enjoying the most.
Hybrid strains, specifically OG Shark, are clear winners in chronic pain relief. Followed by indica, sativa, and finally, higher strains of CBD to THC ratios.
Today, we’ll explore what CRPS is, its various symptoms and relief options and some of the best potential strains for your CRPS symptoms.
– What Is CRPS?
According to the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS), Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that’s not fully understood where the patient experiences excruciating pain that can be debilitating.
The overall cause of CRPS is not currently known. However, most patients diagnosed with CRPS are typically a result of an injury.
Even though an injury triggers CRPS, CRPS will result in much more severe pain that lasts for a much longer duration than normal injury pain.
Further challenges with CRPS involve the affected area’s skin, which can cause it to become extremely sensitive and can create enormous amounts of pain, even if you slightly bump or touch the skin. Slight temperature changes can also trigger extreme pain sensations.
CRPS can last several years, and the condition typically improves with time.
Common symptoms of CRPS include.
- Chronic pain – the range of pain can include sensations that feel like tingles, numbness, stinging, burning, and stabbing that can flare up with stress
- Strange sensations – The affected area may not feel as though it belongs to your body, making it feel larger or smaller than the other affected areas
- Skin changes – can range from dry, hot, or red to sweaty, cold, and blue
- Changes to hair and nails – growth may be unusually slow and fast, and nails can become more grooved or brittle
- Stiff joints
- Swelling
- Muscle spasms
- Tremors
- Movement difficulty
- Sleep problems
- Osteoporosis in the area of the affected limb in small areas of the sensitive bone
- Ulcers
- Skin infection
- Muscles wasting away
- Muscles lose normal movement range and may become shortened.
With all the above potential symptoms of CRPS, living with this level of sustained chronic pain might cause patients to feel anxious or lose their usual joy in life, which can cause suicidal thoughts during intense painful periods.
There’s currently no cure available except for the combination of various physical rehabilitation methods, pain relief medications, psychological support, relaxation methods, support groups, and more.
– Medical Cannabis As A Potential Treatment Option For CRPS
Medical Cannabis, also commonly known as cannabis, is a powerful, naturally growing plant that researchers around the world are studying to discover the potential additional treatment options for a wide range of situations, including for pain relief.
Cannabis contains potent chemical compounds known as cannabinoids with the two most well-known and widely studied molecules being cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
These cannabinoids work on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) through complex interactions, with each molecule having a unique function at the various cannabinoid receptor sites located throughout the body.
Published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Drugs, the ECS might be a potential system to target in conjunction with other traditional treatments available.
Due to various legislation, the availability of cannabinoids for pain might be restricted in your area.
Even though the laws are slowly changing favorably, cannabinoids are continuing to gain the interest of researchers in treating chronic pain, making them a promising option for aiding inflammation and various forms of pain.
In the research quoted above, patients with CRPS taking either a low or high dose of cannabis reported experiencing significant pain relief when comparing it to the placebo.
The reported adverse effects of cannabis for CRPS were minimal and, in general, were well-tolerated at low or high doses.
Research is still ongoing for the use of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) for CRPS.
– What Are The Best Cannabis Strains For CRPS?
The three primary cannabis strains are indica, sativa, and hybrid, with each having different effects depending on your body chemistry, time of day taking a dose, how much you take, etc.
In general, pain patients reported in The Journal of Headache and Pain that hybrid strains are the overall preferred type of cannabis, with the best strain being OG Shark as it is the clear number one winning strain by over 2000 pain patients of different types of pain.
After hybrid strains, the next favorite reported in the pain study is indica, then sativa, and finally, strains with higher CBD content than THC content.
Specifically, the best strain for chronic pain is OG Shark; for arthritis pain, patients preferred Sweet Skunk CBD; for mental health Jack Herer; for sleep issues, is Lemon Sour Diesel; and for GI pain, patients enjoyed Island Sweet Skunk.
These strains work alongside traditional treatment methods to help manage the various pain symptoms caused by CRPS.
– Indica Strains For CRPS-Related Pain
Indica strains are well-known for delivering calming and relaxing sensations all over the body and are best used for evening and nighttime purposes.
Heavy indica strains will produce potent tranquillizing effects to aid with sleep and stress relief after a long day.
- Granddaddy Purple
- Bubba Kush
- Northern Lights
- Blue Cheese
- Purple Kush
Even though each person will have unique reactions to various indica strains, it’s always a good idea to start with a small amount and slowly increase until you achieve the desired effects.
– Sativa Strains For CRPS-Related Pain
Sativa strains are best known for producing uplifting energetic effects felt mostly in the cerebral area that’s best for combatting low spirits while delivering a strong increase in focus and creative mood-boosting sensations.
- Sour Diesel
- Green Crack
- Jack Herer
- Durban Poison
- Lemon Haze
Before adding sativa or any cannabis strain to your regular pain relief regimen, it’s best to consult with your primary healthcare provider to verify it’s a safe and effective option for your biology.
– Hybrid Strains For CRPS-Related Pain
Hybrids are the best of both sativa and indica strains by offering a balance of full-body relaxations as well as uplifting euphoric cerebral sensations.
- Blue Dream
- Girl Scout Cookies
- White Widow
- Trainwreck
- Cheese
Pain patients prefer hybrid strains over other types due to their unique balancing effects for pain relief and mood-enhancing feelings.
– Final Thoughts On The Top Cannabis Strains For CRPS
Overall, typical patients tend to enjoy experiencing a variety of different cannabis strains to prevent tolerance, as well as to continue exploring which strain will work best for their body chemistry.
Some patients find keeping a journal helpful in pinpointing which strains work best and how much of each they need to find optimal levels of relief.
Once your doctor gives you the green light to add cannabis to your traditional treatment routine, there are expert cannabis strain providers ready to help you find quality options.