More than 5 million Americans currently live with symptoms of fibromyalgia, a debilitating and painful condition in which the person may suffer from severe and stabbing pain. A new study finds that the use of marijuana could be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia.
The study was conducted by the National Pain Foundation and National Pain Report. Currently, there are only three drugs that are federally approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. However, 62% of the respondents in the survey who had tried cannabis said that it really helped them manage the symptoms, while 30% said that it helped a little, and only 5% reported that it did not help them at all. Not surprisingly, approximately 70% of the people in the study had not tried marijuana for the treatment of fibromyalgia at all because it is not available for medical use in their state.
Apart from the use of the federally approved prescription drugs, some respondents also said that using the muscle relaxants, swimming, massage, acupuncture and other types of alternative treatments did help their symptoms.
The study also spotlighted some very disturbing facts about the kind of challenges of fibromyalgia patients suffer. 43% of the sufferers reported that their doctor was not at all knowledgeable about the condition, and 35% believed that their painful symptoms were not being taken seriously by their doctor. 45% believed that their family and friends did not take their symptoms seriously.
Fibromyalgia is a painful condition, and as the symptoms begin to worsen, many persons may find that the disorder can completely dominate their lives. It can leave them completely fatigued and constantly battling pain. Patients may begin to feel socially isolated, and because of their constant pain may not even be able to consider performing all the routine activities that they used to take for granted before.
If you currently suffer from very serious symptoms of fibromyalgia that prevent you from working, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Call 713-993-7311 to speak with Houston social security disability lawyer M. Stanley Whitehead today.
