Two studies presented at the 2022 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons indicate that medicinal cannabis can reduce - and in some cases eliminate - opioid use among patients with chronic back pain and osteoarthritis.
The findings also showed improvements in pain scores and quality of life following medicinal cannabis prescriptions.
Both studies examined opioid prescriptions filled by patients with chronic back pain and osteoarthritis who had been certified for medicinal cannabis access between February 2018 and July 2019.
Researchers compared the average morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day of opioid prescriptions filled in the six months before patients began accessing medicinal cannabis with those filled in the six months after.
In a cohort of 186 patients with chronic musculoskeletal non-cancer back pain, the average MME per day fell significantly following a medicinal cannabis prescription - from 15.1 to 11. Of those patients, 38.7% dropped to zero MME per day.
Patients also reported improved intensity, frequency, and daily function after medicinal cannabis use.
Among 40 osteoarthritis patients given access to medicinal cannabis, average MME per day dropped significantly from 18.2 to 9.8, with 37.5% reaching zero.
Pain scores also decreased significantly.
Principal investigator Dr Asif M. Ilyas from the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, said: “Our studies show that medical cannabis can be an effective treatment for chronic back pain and osteoarthritis.
“In the setting of the current opioid crisis, we must identify alternatives that may mitigate the reliance on opioids for controlling pain.
“At this point, we are not advocating for the routine use of medical cannabis or saying it is a better option, but our studies show potential.”
Dr Ilyas added more research is needed “to better understand the best routes and frequencies, potential adverse events, and long-term outcomes of medical cannabis use”.