Muscular Dystrophy-Related Spasms and Medical Marijuana

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Muscular Dystrophy Related Spasms & Medical Marijuana

Muscular dystrophy is a rare disease that affects hundreds of thousands of patients in the United States. There’s sadly no cure for MD, but the medical field continues to search for one. The term muscular dystrophy includes 30 different inherited disorders. Although each presents itself differently, all are degenerative and get worse over time.

One of the most painful symptoms associated with muscular dystrophy is severe spasms. Physical therapy and pharmaceutical options are available to help manage the intensity of these symptoms and the pain they can produce. However, medical marijuana is gaining popularity as a treatment for this disorder.

Types of Muscular Dystrophy

A genetic mutation causes muscular dystrophy and creates defects in a particular muscle protein that affects a person’s skeletal muscles. Nine types of MD most commonly affect patients:

  1. Becker
  2. Congenital
  3. Duchenne
  4. Distal
  5. Emery-Dreifuss
  6. Facioscapulohumeral
  7. Limb-Girdle
  8. Myotonic
  9. Oculopharyngeal

Each type of MD presents itself at a different time in the patient’s life, from infancy to middle age. Symptoms are similar, but they vary in intensity and progression. Some people can manage their symptoms for years, while others weaken at a young age.

All muscular dystrophy disorders lead to loss of strength due to the wasting away of muscle tissue. They often result in a physical disability and possible deformity. Because there’s no cure, treatment typically focuses on helping patients do their best to manage these symptoms.

Spasms Caused by MD

Many neuromuscular disorders, including muscular dystrophy, cause severe spasms and cramping. This sensation is triggered by stiffly contracted muscles that don’t relax.

Most people can control when their muscles contract or relax by moving their limbs. When even a few fibers of these muscles contract involuntarily, it’s called a spasm. Cramps are forceful spasms that sustain for a time. These muscles contractions can become painful.

MD patients develop muscle spasms due to nerve damage. Neurons carry signals from the brain to the body to control voluntary muscle movement. When these nerve cells become unhealthy, the communication falls apart, making muscles weaken or atrophy (waste away).

Standard Treatments for Muscular Dystrophy Related Spasms

Though no cure exists for the symptoms associated with muscular dystrophy, there are some treatments have proven effective:

  • Physical therapy. Moving the muscles and keeping them warm can ease cramping. Regular stretching makes sure these muscles stay active and working for as long as possible. However, severe pain can inhibit physical movement.
  • Applyheat. Cramping muscles react positively to heating pads, warm baths and steam showers.
  • Medications. Physicians commonly prescribe anticonvulsants or prescription pain meds to help MD patients deal with severe muscle spasms. The downside of prescription medications are the side effects. Opiate pharmaceuticals have a high risk of addiction because patients build up a tolerance very quickly. They also can produce dangerous side effects.

Treating Muscular Dystrophy Related Spasms With Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana has proven to be an effective treatment for many medical conditions. The two most important aspects of muscular dystrophy-related spasms that cannabis meds can target are muscle cramping and pain:

  • Muscle cramping. There’s a bevy of research that proves certain marijuana strains act as a powerful antispasmodic. Products high in cannabidiol (or CBD) can lessen or even alleviate spasms. Although THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) has a psychoactive effect, it also relaxes patients and helps loosen cramping muscles.
  • Spasm-related pain. At the very least, MD-related spasms are uncomfortable — at worst, they’re extremely painful. When the muscles rigidly contract and don’t release, patients will find it difficult to carry on everyday activities due to the pain. Medical marijuana is a proven pain reliever. Patients commonly use it for this purpose and find improved quality of life. When researching cannabis meds, look for products with an equal ratio of THC and CBD.

If you or someone you love is suffering from MD-related muscle spasms, medical marijuana could be the solution you’ve been searching for. Search for marijuana doctors on our site to get started treating your chronic pain today.

Information on Medical Marijuana & Muscular Dystrophy