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Back pain can originate in the spine, discs, muscles or surrounding soft tissues. For example, you might experience mechanical (structural) back pain due to a sprain, strain, herniated or ruptured disc or degenerative or myofascial pain in the muscles surrounding the spine. Other causes of back pain include:
- Ligaments sprain or strain
- Herniated or ruptured disc (when the jelly-like center of a disc pushes out of its covering)
- Myofascial pain syndrome (pain originating from muscle and surrounding fascia)
- Degenerative disc disease (where the vertebrae of the spine breaks down)
- Nerve compression or irritation
- Inflammatory arthritis of the spine
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoporosis
- Infections that affect the bones and discs of the spine
Traditional treatments to relieve back pain include cold packs to relieve pain and inflammation, hot packs to increase blood flow to muscles and tissues in the muscles and tissues of the back, corticosteroid injections, spinal manipulation and massage. Pharmaceutical treatments may include topical over-the-counter pain relief lotions and creams and oral medications, including acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen. Opioid medications, such as oxycontin, hydrocodone (Vicodin) and fentanyl patches, are also prescribed for back pain relief.
A good quality CBD cream is one of the least invasive ways to treat back pain, says Brandy Zachary, a certified functional medicine practitioner and founder of the Functional Medicine Academy, a functional medicine certification program for health care practitioners.
CBD may inhibit an enzyme which breaks down anandamide, a natural endocannabinoid. “Increased levels of anandamide can lead to reduced pain sensation and muscle relaxation,” explains Zachary. “CBD may alter how pain signals are processed by the central nervous system due to its ability to reduce serotonin and GABA neurotransmitter release and neuron excitability, leading to a calming effect on the nervous system.”
The back pain an individual is treating may be a symptom or warning sign of a more serious medical condition, says Zachary. “If you ignore [the symptom], you miss diagnosing the root cause or source of the pain, which is the actual problem to be fixed,” explains Zachary. She considers CBD cream to be safer than NSAIDs, which many people take for pain relief. Potential side effects of NSAIDs may include gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular risks and renal complications for people with kidney disease.
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