- Carpal tunnel syndrome causes tingling, pain, and loss of mobility in the hand and fingers. It can significantly impact your daily tasks and quality of life.
- Medical marijuana can treat the physical and mental consequences of carpal tunnel syndrome by reducing pain and inflammation, increasing blood flow, and promoting sleep and relaxation.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, if deemed debilitating by a doctor, can qualify you for medical marijuana use in Louisiana. All you need is a medical recommendation from a state-licensed provider to access medical marijuana pharmacies and find relief.
The carpal tunnel in your wrist may seem minor, but when inflamed, it can disrupt your daily life in a big way.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in your affected hand, limiting your motor function and ability to perform repetitive tasks. Fortunately, medical marijuana can reduce these symptoms thanks to its potent pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
Can carpal tunnel syndrome patients qualify for medical marijuana in Louisiana? Yes, they can.
Louisiana’s medical marijuana program allows healthcare providers to recommend cannabis treatment to any patient with a debilitating condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome. Keep reading to explore how cannabis can provide relief and aid your healing journey. Then, learn your options as a Louisiana patient with TeleLeaf.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
You have nerves running throughout your body: They help you move, respond to stimuli, and more. Nerves travel through channels to support the outer reaches of your body—including your hands.
The median nerve, the main nerve that runs through the arm to the hand, travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist.
The carpal tunnel is a narrow channel made of connective tissue. While the carpal tunnel is strong, it doesn’t stretch or expand well. This makes it prone to putting pressure on the important nerves and tendons that travel through it.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when either:
- The carpal tunnel walls narrow, or
- The flexor tendons, which support finger mobility, swell up
Both occurrences squeeze the median nerve, cutting off essential blood flow.
This produces serious symptoms such as:
- Painful tingling or burning sensations in the hand and fingers
- Numbness or weakness in the hand
- Loss of hand or finger mobility
- Proneness to clumsiness or dropping things
- Tingling or pain that radiates up the arm and shoulder
The most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is prolonged repetitive hand use. Anything from typing to driving to playing piano can inflame the sensitive tendons in the hand and put pressure on the median nerve. People with jobs that require repetitive hand movement are particularly susceptible.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment Options
Traditional treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Wrist bracing or splinting
- Physical therapy
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Steroid injections
- Surgery
Carpal tunnel syndrome patients can use NSAIDs to alleviate painful symptoms—but they aren’t right for everyone.
Doctors typically recommend NSAID use for only 10 days or fewer to avoid adverse effects such as stomach pain or ulcers. However, carpal tunnel syndrome pain can last much longer than that. What can you do to find lasting relief?
Instead, more and more patients are turning to alternative, holistic treatments like medical cannabis to fully support their healing journey.
How Medical Marijuana Benefits Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients
You use your hands for almost everything: When carpal tunnel syndrome takes your hand movement away, it shifts your world on its axis.
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms impact your ability to work, exercise, enjoy hobbies, and perform other important daily tasks like cooking, dressing yourself, and more. Pain can also keep you up at night, leaving you tired, frustrated, and even less capable of completing tasks.
If traditional Western treatments (like NSAIDs) haven’t helped you achieve satisfying relief, there’s another solution: medical marijuana.
Real patients currently use medical marijuana to manage a host of health conditions including muscular and nervous system issues like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Cannabis works to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms on multiple fronts; it:
- Relieves pain
- Reduces inflammation
- Increases blood flow
- Promotes sleep
- Uplifts mood
Medical marijuana stands apart from other pain management options in multiple ways:
- Product variety – There are a wide variety of cannabis products available which allow you to tailor your treatment to your unique needs and preferences. Many people mistakenly believe that all cannabis products get you high. However, non-THC products, like hemp and CBD, have no psychoactive effects—and they help you heal equally as well.
- Safety – Cannabis provides a safer way to heal. It’s natural and non-addictive: “overdosing” is nearly impossible, and no one has ever died from cannabis overuse. Additionally, unlike NSAIDs, medical marijuana will not cause adverse health effects like ulcers when used for a prolonged period.
- Mind-body connection – Cannabis doesn’t simply target the physical sensations of carpal tunnel pain—it promotes whole-body healing and provides relief from the mental stress of injury. By reducing inflammation, cannabis targets symptoms at the source. And with a calmer mind, you can rest easy at night and focus on healing.
Again, medical marijuana presents a quality alternative to the Western model of medicine. You can supplement your existing care plan with medical marijuana or let it take the lead on your healing journey: Find relief on your terms.
Understanding Louisiana’s Medical Marijuana Program
Currently, 38 states have medical marijuana programs that provide relief to patients like you. Each program varies by state: What does it look like in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Therapeutic Marijuana Act states that any Louisiana resident with a qualifying medical condition can gain access to medical marijuana treatment. The act explicitly lists a large number of physical, mental, and neurological conditions that qualify for medical marijuana use.
Some include:
- Intractable or chronic pain
- Muscle spasticity
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Muscular dystrophy
- Severe muscle spasms
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Seizure disorders
You can also qualify if you have any condition that a state-licensed healthcare provider deems debilitating. This opens the gates for patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome to access medical cannabis treatment in Louisiana.
How to Get Medical Marijuana Access for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Louisiana
To join Louisiana’s medical marijuana program for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, you need:
- A debilitating case of carpal tunnel syndrome
- A medical recommendation from a state-licensed clinician
Since the federal government still considers marijuana a Schedule I drug, doctors can’t prescribe it like traditional medications. Instead, they can recommend its use according to individual state laws.
In Louisiana, you can obtain your medical recommendation from any physician, nurse practitioner, or medical psychologist currently licensed and in good standing with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
To find out if you qualify and obtain your medical recommendation, choose TeleLeaf. We offer convenient and affordable care from the most experienced and compassionate Louisiana doctors. The best part? It’s all virtual.
Schedule a phone appointment and connect with a state-licensed clinician as soon as today. During your appointment, you’ll discuss your symptoms and healing goals. If you qualify, your provider will give you your medical recommendation for holistic cannabis treatment.
Once approved, you’ll gain instant access to your local medical marijuana pharmacy. Louisiana’s program splits the state into 10 regions, with one pharmacy serving patients in each region. Pharmacies can dispense up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis to each patient every two weeks.
At TeleLeaf, we care about your entire healing journey from medical recommendation to renewal. We can also connect you with a medical marijuana pharmacy near you to help you get a head start on healing.
TeleLeaf Helps Louisiana Patients Find True Relief
Carpal tunnel syndrome poses serious risks to your motor function, job performance, and general health and happiness. Medical marijuana can put the reigns of your life back in your hands—and help you hold on tight.
If you’re a carpal tunnel syndrome patient who’s interested in the healing potential of medical marijuana, you’re in the right place. TeleLeaf connects you with experienced, state-licensed providers who simply want to help you heal.
Not a good fit? Don’t worry—you’ll only be charged if and when you receive your medical recommendation.
Sign up for your same-day appointment now to unlock personalized, holistic care; the entire process takes less than 15 minutes.
Sources:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/
Cleveland Clinic. NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/
Healthline. The Effects of Cannabis on Your Body.
https://www.healthline.com/health/effects-of-cannabis-on-body
National Conference of State Legislatures. State Medical Cannabis Laws.
https://www.ncsl.org/health/state-medical-cannabis-laws
Marijuana Policy Project. Overview of the Louisiana Therapeutic Marijuana Act.
https://www.mpp.org/states/louisiana/overview-of-louisianas-medical-cannabis-law/
MJBizDaily. Louisiana’s 10th medical marijuana dispensaries opens.
https://mjbizdaily.com/
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