Medical Marijuana for Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions that cause painful cramping — muscles feel tight, hard, and sometimes immovable. While everyone experiences occasional spasms, chronic muscle spasticity is a debilitating symptom of many conditions including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and fibromyalgia. Conventional treatments often fall short, leading many patients to explore medical cannabis.

Common Causes of Chronic Muscle Spasms

Chronic spasms can result from inadequate blood circulation, nerve compression, mineral deficiencies (particularly magnesium and potassium), certain medications, dehydration, and underlying neurological conditions. While preventive measures like proper hydration and stretching help in some cases, many patients with neurological conditions require ongoing medical management to control severe spasticity.

What Research Shows

Clinical evidence for medical cannabis in spasticity is compelling. In patients with multiple sclerosis, marijuana and its cannabinoid compounds have been shown to relax muscle rigidity and reduce associated chronic pain in multiple clinical studies. The prescription cannabinoid medication Sativex, approved in multiple countries (though not yet in the U.S.), was developed specifically for MS-related spasticity. For spinal cord injury patients, clinical studies have demonstrated that medical cannabis reduces muscle spasticity, pain, and the insomnia that often accompanies these conditions.

Getting Treatment

If you suffer from chronic muscle spasms related to a qualifying condition, medical marijuana may provide the relief that conventional treatments have not. Dr. Stratt will evaluate your specific condition and develop a treatment plan including appropriate strains and delivery methods to address your spasticity, pain, and related symptoms.