How To Use Topical CBD Oil For Nerve Pain
There are so many questions surrounding the use of CBD oil to manage various forms of chronic pain, including nerve pain.
How can you use topical CBD oil to manage nerve pain?
Nerve pain or neuropathy is any condition that impairs or damages peripheral nerves. This refers to nerves located in the extremities, away from your brain and spinal cord.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an estimated 20 million American Citizens may be suffering from peripheral neuropathy. The body further states that this number could be higher since not all cases are reported, and some are misdiagnosed.
In this article, we will explain how you can use topical CBD to manage nerve pain.
Understanding Neuropathy
As mentioned, nerve pain often stems from damage in the peripheral nervous system.
Cleveland Clinic describes the peripheral nervous system as the network of nerves located outside your spinal cord and brain.
The peripheral nervous system helps send information from your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body. The system also relays sensory information to your central nervous system.
Neuropathy or nerve pain results when nerve cells (neurons) are impaired or damaged.
This disrupts how nerve cells communicate with each other and the brain.
There are different types of neuropathy:
- Mononeuropathy– Refers to when neuropathy only affects one nerve type.
- Multifocal neuropathy- When neuropathy affects a combination of nerves in a limited area.
- Polyneuropathy- When nerve damage occurs in many peripheral nerves throughout the body.
People generally describe nerve pain as burning, stabbing, or tingling.
Neuropathy can result from infections, exposure to toxins, traumatic injuries, certain cancers, chemotherapy drugs, autoimmune diseases, liver and kidney disorders, vascular blood problems, inherited causes, diabetes, etc.
How Neuropathy Affects The Quality Of Life
But nerve pain is not any other type of pain; neuropathy may significantly affect the quality of life. Apart from experiencing muscle weakness, some patients also experience painful cramps and uncontrolled twitching.
Damaged sensory nerves of the peripheral nervous system may also lead to severe symptoms such as increased pain sensations (some people report severe pain even from a blanket draped over their shoulders!), reduced sense of touch (may interfere with body balance), difficulties controlling pain, etc.
Compound these symptoms with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes that may have caused nerve damage, and the quality of life will significantly be affected.
How To Manage Nerve Pain
Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, there’s no known cure for neuropathy. So how do you manage this condition?
The NINDS advises that you start by identifying the underlying condition that may be causing nerve damage.
Treating this condition will help prevent further nerve damage, thus reducing the symptoms.
Other treatment options include the use of mechanical aids, e.g., transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, foot and hand braces, surgeries etc.
However, most people are looking for more natural alternatives to manage this condition and other forms of chronic pain.
These options include massages, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, and of course, CBD.
But can CBD help with nerve pain? Let’s find out.
How To Use Topical CBD For Nerve Pain
CBD or Cannabidiol is a non-intoxicating chemical compound found in the hemp plant. Following the 2018 hemp bill, we have seen more research and data showcasing the potential of CBD to help with various body conditions such as mood imbalance symptoms, skin conditions such as acne, chronic pain, and for our case, nerve pain.
How CBD May Help With Nerve Pain
We all have an endocannabinoid system- a system of receptors that regulates vital body processes, including pain perception, immune system response, mood imbalance, sleep, appetite, etc.
Ever heard of homeostasis? It refers to a balance in the body’s internal environment. This means keeping everything from body temperatures to enzymes, body chemicals, etc. at optimal working levels.
Research indicates that by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, CBD may help maintain homeostasis.
This is one of the ways that CBD oil is thought to help with pain, hormonal imbalance symptoms, mood imbalance symptoms, etc.
What Research Says
This 2012 literature review examined how cannabinoids may help suppress neuropathic and inflammatory pain by targeting alpha-3 glycine.
The authors of this study also noted that Cannabidiol might help manage persistent discomforts associated with various diseases.
Another way that CBD may help with nerve pain is by activating the brain’s serotonin receptors.
According to experts, nerve damage disrupts normal serotonin function.
In this study, CBD was found to help with neuropathic pain in animals. This was credited to the compound’s ability to maintain serotonin at optimal levels.
The same findings are echoed by another study, which states that CBD’s ability to restore serotonin levels may help with diabetic neuropathy.
There are no enough human trials examining how CBD may help with nerve pain.
The study of cannabis-based pharmaceutical called Nabiximols may be the most compelling evidence we have so far.
This cannabis-derivative has equal parts of THC and CBD and has been found to help with neuropathy.
Why CBD Topicals Works So Well For Nerve Pain
Any form of CBD that’s applied to external body parts is referred to as topical CBD.
While you can ingest or vape CBD to help with nerve pain, CBD topicals may work great since neuropathy often affects extremities such as legs, fingers, etc.
When applied directly to the affected area, CBD topicals help concentrate all the benefits of CBD to the target area.
In other words, CBD topicals don’t have to go through the bloodstream to help with nerve pain.
On the other hand, CBD edibles, tinctures, and vapes have to get into the bloodstream for you to experience CBD’s benefits.
If you’re looking to relieve physical discomforts such as pain on your shoulder or leg due to nerve damage, CBD topical may be your best choice since you will massage it directly into the affected area.
CBD will then interact with the endocannabinoid receptors found under your skin, giving you instant aid.
You can also use CBD topicals in conjunction with other forms of CBD, such as our CBD tinctures.
When taken sublingually, CBD goes directly into your bloodstream via the blood capillaries found under your tongue.
If your pain is a result of another underlying condition, CBD tinctures may help reduce the pain by dealing with the underlying issue.
Tinctures may also help boost your sleep, which is often disrupted by neuropathic pain.
Where To Get Best CBD Topicals For Nerve Pain
At GREAT CBD SHOP, we stock a wide range of CBD topicals to ensure that you can always get something you will love.
Like all our other products, our CBD topicals are tested by 3rd party independent labs for potency and quality.
All products are THC-free, so no intoxicating effects.
Check out our online store for all forms of CBD.
CBD Topical For Nerve Pain- Take Away
Although CBD won’t cure neuropathy, it may help manage the pain. It’s seen as a safer alternative than most other techniques used to manage nerve pain, which may even include surgery.
To use CBD topical, all you need is to apply and massage it into the affected area. Topical CBD offers direct and targeted aid, which makes it an ideal choice for all forms of physical discomforts.
For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact to us.
