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Alternative Treatment for Costochondritis; Marijuana (Cannabis)

May 25, 20102 CommentsDisease Treatment , , , ,

As medical director for Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often evaluate patients who experience costochondritis.    Costochondritis is pain at the location of the cartilage where the ribs attach to your sternum (breast plate).   Ultimately it is the result of inflammation of the cartilage and the joint.   Typically it is very painful and is often treated with rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like motrin or if treating the underlying cause if it is easily defined.   Recently I had two patients who were treating their chest wall pain with cannabis with great success.

Costochondritis can be caused by a number of things.  Injuries to the chest wall, physical strains (i.e.from excessive weight lifting), infection, fibromyalgia can all lead to inflammation of the costochondral joint.

Because cannabis has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties it is a good treatment plan.  It also assists patient with sleep since pain can be exacerbated with breathing as the ribs move in a bucket handle type motion making it difficult to fall asleep.

Cannabis does not have the risk of GI bleeding like typical NSAIDS do and also acts as a great sedative.

If you suffer from costochondritis and would like more information feel free to contact our office at 877-721-0047 and make an appointment to be evaluated by me.

Be blessed,

Dr. Sean Breen

Medical Director, MCSoCal

www.mcsocal.com

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2 comments to “Alternative Treatment for Costochondritis; Marijuana (Cannabis)”

  1. Jordan | December 5, 2010 | Permalink Reply

    It’s so relieving to finally find this information. I have been treating my Costochondritis with cannabis for a number of years, with all the Doctors here in the UK saying that it isn’t beneficial for the condition, even after i explained that it has the same effect as the opiate based painkillers and anti-inflamatories that i was being prescribed, in fact the cannabis was far superior. Was growing my own, and got raided, taken to court, and forced to prove i was switching over to the prescribed medication, that is highly addictive. Because the so called “medical experts” and the judges in court said that cannabis was in no way beneficial to my condition. wish i had found this article before so i could have shown it in court, for now i have a criminal record, just for trying to medicate myself for a very painful condition

  2. kasondra | January 3, 2011 | Permalink Reply

    I have been suffering from constant pain from chronic costochondritis for over a year now.I have been diagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis and secondary Fibromyalgia. My rheumetologist refuses to give me pain medication(said that narcotics don’t work on inflammatory pain?)And the pain clinic has only offered NSAID patches that don’t work and injections that could damage the cartlidge and may not work. I am considering applying for medical marijuana(available in my state MT) and hopefully can get my doctor to sign the paperwork stating I have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition.

    Any advice and tips on talking with a doctor that I am guessing will be resistent to the idea? I feel like I am currently out of options and have been living for nearly 2 yrs in 24/7 pain. All I want is a an hour or two of relief a week. Heck I’d settle for an hour every two weeks at this point.

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