Sudden changes in temperature in the winter may intensify symptoms for the quarter of UK adults (26%) struggling with chronic pain. According to the British Pain Society, 5.5 million sufferers report living with high-impact chronic pain and struggle to participate in daily activities – with back pain, arthritis and joint pain being the most prevalent.
Now with the critical mass of society living with debilitating symptoms and the cold weather heightening pain sensitivity, society has assumed the experience of pain and a never-ending relationship with strong medications as the norm. This comes as landmark research from Mamedica, the nation’s leading medical cannabis clinic, has unveiled that over half (51%) of the population say they have lived with a chronic condition for over five years and have not found a remedy that works.
However, there are multiple evidence-based reports which discuss the potential ineffectiveness of opioids for treating long-term pain and some researchers highlight that these drugs may have been overprescribed according to national guidelines. This comes as evidence shows that just last year the UK prescribed over 50 million opioid medications – placing the UK as the highest number of prescribers per capita in the world.
Perpetuated by a raft of unprecedented and stress-inducing societal and economic events, the meteoric rise in pain patients seems to be unabating as Mamedica found that 73% have accepted physical pain and discomfort as the norm. In a critical conversation about the need for alternative therapeutic methods, Jon Robson, CEO & founder of Mamedica, discusses the viability of medical cannabis as a safe way to manage pain.
Key stats:
- 51% of Britons say they have lived with a chronic health condition for over 5 years and have not found a remedy that works
- 14% say that the medication they are prescribed has worsened their condition
- 73% say that have accepted physical pain and discomfort as the norm for themselves
- 16% say that they avoid the GP to avoid being prescribed stronger medication
- 24% say they have tried at least three different medications for their chronic pain but have not found them to be effective
- 19% say that they believe self-medicating using cannabis helps them save money on healthcare costs
Since its legalisation for medical purposes in the UK in 2018, the benefits of using cannabis-based prescriptions to treat a range of health conditions have been well-documented with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) having known benefits relative to sleep hygiene, mood stabilisation, and a reduction of neuropathic pain. The two cannabinoids which have garnered the most attention in the field are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These are thought to affect pain through various pathways, including the endocannabinoid system.
Mamedica supports patients of all backgrounds that are living with chronic conditions with chronic pain accounting for around 70% of those using their services, spanning across cancer-related pain, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.
Dr Farrah Ayob, a Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia at Mamedica, said: “When I followed up with patients, I heard life-changing stories about pain. Patients who have significant ski injury, paraplegia and all that sort of complex pain issues. Cannabis is beneficial for them. Not only for their pain but also for their wellbeing and mood.
“I see about 20 to 30 patients a week. More than 95% of my patients find they are satisfied with their progress in managing their pain compared to conventional medicines. They have guidance from me on how to use cannabis. We monitor them regularly and the difference in their quality of life is immense. They feel a lot more reassured that all the anxiety about using grey-market cannabis is gone.
“A lot of the conventional medicines that are often prescribed have many adverse side effects. However, with cannabis, their pain is significantly reduced and they also get more function on a daily basis. They can go out more or even do work, spend time with their families, sleep better and also have a better mood. This is a great medicine which holistically supports my patient’s quality of life.”
Jon Robson, CEO and founder of Mamedica, added: “Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since November 2018, yet its applications are still only recently being discussed publicly. For me, it wasn’t until I spent time in California – and visited a medical cannabis dispensary for the first time – that I realised the potential it had to improve the lives of people who were on much stronger medications.
“That is why at Mamedica we advocate for improved access and availability to safe and secure treatment. From the initial consultation to the delivery of prescriptions we ensure that the entire process is tailored to an individual’s presenting symptoms – be it from chronic pain to psychological difficulty. Through a combination of education and awareness, the increased use of prescription-based cannabis has the potential to alleviate the collective experience of pain so many have normalised and instead enjoy an improved quality of life.”
“Our service offers unrestricted access to the widest range of cannabis-based prescription medicines available in the UK, and our healthcare model has been designed to deliver the fastest speed of service, from initial consultation to the patient receiving their prescription.”