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. 2021 Sep 4;3(1):41.
doi: 10.1186/s42238-021-00096-8.

Cannabis against chronic musculoskeletal pain: a scoping review on users and their perceptions

Daniela Furrer  1   2 , Edeltraut Kröger  3   4   5   6 , Martine Marcotte  1 , Nathalie Jauvin  1 , Richard Bélanger  7   8 , Mark Ware  9 , Guillaume Foldes-Busque  10   11 , Michèle Aubin  1   2   8 , Pierre Pluye  9 , Clermont E Dionne  1   2   8
Affiliations

Cannabis against chronic musculoskeletal pain: a scoping review on users and their perceptions

Daniela Furrer et al. J Cannabis Res. .

Abstract

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) may lead to reduced physical function and is the most common cause of chronic non-cancer pain. Currently, the pharmacotherapeutic options against CMP are limited and frequently consist of pain management with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, gabapentinoids, or opioids, which carry major adverse effects. Although the effectiveness of medical cannabis (MC) for CMP still lacks solid evidence, several patients suffering from it are exploring this therapeutic option with their physicians.

Objectives: Little is known about patients' perceptions of their MC treatment for CMP. We aimed to increase this knowledge, useful for healthcare professionals and patients considering this treatment, by conducting a scoping literature review, following guidance by Arksey and O'Malley, to describe the views and perceptions of adult patients who had consumed MC to relieve chronic CMP.

Methods: Databases (PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science) and websites were searched using combinations of controlled and free vocabulary. All studies and study designs reporting on patients' perceptions regarding MC against CMP were considered. Studies had to include adult patients reporting qualitatively or quantitatively, i.e., through questionnaires, on MC use to treat CMP or other non-cancer pain, since studies reporting exclusively on perceptions regarding CMP were very rare. Study characteristics were extracted and limitations of the study quality were assessed. The review includes patients' demographic characteristics, patterns of MC use, perceived positive and negative effects, use of alcohol or other drugs, reported barriers to CM use, and funding sources of the studies.

Results: Participants of the 49 included studies reported that MC use helped them to reduce CMP and other chronic non-cancer pain, with only minor adverse effects, and some reported improved psychological well-being. In the included studies, men represent between 18 and 88% of the subjects. The mean age of participants in these studies (42/49) varied between 28.4 and 62.8 years old. The most common route of administration is inhalation.

Conclusion: MC users suffering from CMP or other chronic non-cancer pain perceived more benefits than harms. However, the information from these studies has several methodological limitations and results are exploratory. These user-reported experiences must thus be examined by well-designed and methodologically sound clinical or observational studies, particularly regarding CMP, where reports are very scarce.

Keywords: Adverse effect; Chronic pain; Medical cannabis; Musculoskeletal pain; Non-cancer chronic pain; Perceived effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

Edeltraut Kröger, Daniela Furrer, Martine Marcotte, Nathalie Jauvin, Richard Bélanger, Guillaume Foldes-Busque, Michèle Aubin, Pierre Pluye and Clermont E. Dionne declare that they have no conflict of interest relevant to the content of this study. Mark Ware took a leave of absence from McGill University in 2018, well after most of this review was performed, and is now the Chief Medical Officer at Canopy Growth, Canada. We want to stress that at no time Dr. Ware’s new affiliation influenced any step of this scoping review. Having been critically involved in research and in raising interest in the knowledge gap and growing request of patients to use cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain, he continues to be a collaborator in this research. Daniela Furrer has started to work at the Quebec Ministry of Health in July 2019.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the scoping review
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Medical cannabis and musculoskeletal pain: scoping review key data
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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