Tendinitis

Can medicinal marijuana assist patients with symptoms of Tendinitis? Find out below.

What is tendonitis?

Tendinitis, aka tendonitis, is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon in the body, which is a piece of connective tissue between the muscles and bones. Tendinitis can be acute or chronic, meaning it can be short-term or long-term. 

What causes it?

Tendinitis often occurs due to repetitive, minor impact on the affected area or by a sudden, severe injury. Professional athletes are known for having tendonitis in the arms and legs.

Where does it occur?

Tendinitis can occur in any body area where a tendon connects a bone to a muscle. The typical areas are:

• Achilles Tendon
• The base of the thumb
• Elbow
• Shoulder
• Hip
• Knee

Who does it affect?

Tendonitis is more common in those who do repetitive activities like:

• Gardening
• Woodworking.
• Shoveling.
• Painting.
• Scrubbing.
• Tennis, golf, skiing, baseball
• Poor posture
• Presence of certain diseases that can weaken muscles, such as:
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Blood or kidney disease

Signs and Symptoms

The primary symptom of tendinitis is pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area. It can be a gradual buildup or sudden and severe, particularly if calcium deposits are found. 

Treatment Options for Tendonitis

Tendonitis treatment includes:

• Avoid activities that irritate the condition
• Rest the muscles and tendons
• Cold Compress on the Area
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines

How many athletes use medical weed?

According to the 2019 Athlete PEACE (pain, exercise, and cannabis experience) Survey, sixty-one percent of the athletes surveyed admitted to cannabis use. Out of that group, sixty-eight percent reported relief. Some of the positive benefits described include relief from pain, and inflammation, help with sleep, and increased feelings of calm.

Aside from that data, most professional athletes in the NBA and NFL admit they have ingested or smoked cannabis regularly. However, most of these organizations still technically consider marijuana a banned substance due to drug testing policies by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Calls for eliminating cannabis testing and removal from the prohibited list have come from better pain management and reducing the usage of opioids. Many believe there should be a therapeutic use exemption for cannabis. Eugene Monroe, Derrick Morgan, and other professional athletes have called for further investigation into its potential for treating and preventing concussions and other medical purposes.

Can medical marijuana help?

Medical marijuana is commonly found to possess significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help with chronic pain management reasonably quickly and even lower blood pressure. Cannabinoid receptors bind to the brain and peripheral nerve cells within your endocannabinoid system and help regulate how a person sees and feels the pain to reduce symptoms of tendonitis. 

A 2019 Danish study focused on THC and its usefulness for treating rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, both chronic inflammatory diseases. The results of this study found that patients saw improvement after twelve weeks and improved quality of life after twenty-four weeks. 

Cannabinoid Research has a 2021 review that concluded medical cannabis works through CB1, CB2, and TRPV2 receptors to help control the immune response in patients with autoimmune diseases. Medical cannabis has many benefits for patients with various autoimmune diseases.  THC, CBD, CBN, and more have anti-inflammatory and immune healing properties that could help as an alternative therapy option. The cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant can activate the endocannabinoid system in the human body and may help many chronic issues.

The Canna Research Group, led by Joanna and Robert Zieger, surveyed 1,200 athletes across various sports. Their findings showed that many athletes use cannabis for relief and performance. This survey assisted in studying the positive and negative effects of marijuana use from a neutral standpoint. Their findings showed that cannabis use could benefit inflammation, pain, and insomnia. Only a few participants experienced adverse side effects, such as loss of concentration and heightened anxiety.

A Washington University study found that “52 percent of retired players said they used prescription pain medication during their playing days.” With many others from the NFL players association coming out about the dangers of using painkillers, there is scientific evidence that marijuana could be a safer option in sports medicine for professional athletes to ease concussion-related symptoms and performance enhancement.