This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on March 26, 2012.
\In the past week I have taken care of 4 patients who use medical marijuana to control the pain associated with endometriosis. Each of these patients were younger than 30 and had been managed medically prior to coming to see me. Amazingly, all of them had an almost complete resolution of their symptoms when they medicated with marijuana. These reports are extraordinary as endometriosis is often debilitating and outside of surgery and hormonal therapy very difficult to treat.
Pelvic pain is the most common symptom associated with endometriosis and was also the main symptom in my patients. In addition, they combined experienced either dysmenorrhea (painful periods), dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and dysuria (painful urination). In all cases it was severely debilitating to their life and when they were symptomatic 3/4 could not work.
CONTROLLING PAIN WITH CANNABIS INDICA STRAINS
Cannabis indica is a strain of marijuana that is higher in cannabidiol (CBD). Researches suspect that CBD is responsible for the reduction in inflammation associated with chronic inflammatory states. Endometriosis is a condition where the cells that line the uterus (endometrium) are present outside of the uterus (most common on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvic wall). It is these cells that can bleed, releasing inflammatory mediators locally causing pain.
All of my patients reported getting the most benefit from a strain of cannabis called OG Kush, which is an indica strain. In preparing myself for this blog I could not find any study or evidence that has looked at comparing different strains. But my patients anecdotal evidence is exciting.
They each had a huge improvement in their uality of life as a result of being able to manage the pain. One stopped taking any other medications altogether. Each were able to work when they became symptomatic. In addition, my one patient reported that “sex was actually enjoyable again.” This is very exciting and the type of outcomes I am seeing daily in my practice.
I would love to see some more research comparing medical marijuana to some of the more traditional therapies in treating this complex disease (from a pain management standpoint)
If you suffer from endometriosis and are looking for an alternative treatment, I encourage you to discuss using cannabis with your doctor. If they are unwilling to recommend it to you I will be happy to sit down and see if it makes sense.
I hope this blog gives you some hope! Hang in there.
Be blessed,
Dr. Breen