Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Conditions, Clinical Assessment, Safety, and What to Expect

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Leva Clinic

First Published 3/30/2026

Last Updated 3/30/2026

Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Conditions, Clinical Assessment, Safety, and What to Expect

Chronic pain has affected millions of adults in the UK and stands as one of the most challenging conditions to manage. This is because standard therapies such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, or anticonvulsants provide incomplete relief. To address this issue, the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, in its research, shows medical cannabis to be emerging as a potential adjunct or alternative. 

Cannabinoids help modulate pain pathways through effects on the endocannabinoid system, influencing inflammation, nerve signaling, and pain perception. However, its use requires careful patient selection, structured clinical assessment, and ongoing safety monitoring. This guide explains which conditions are sometimes discussed in specialist settings, how clinicians evaluate suitability, what risks to consider, and what patients can realistically expect from treatment in real-world medical settings.

Disclaimer: This content is for general education only and does not provide medical advice. Cannabis based medicinal products are not first-line treatments for chronic pain and may only be considered after specialist assessment when other approaches have not provided adequate relief or were not tolerated. Response varies between individuals, and ongoing monitoring is required.

Current guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not recommend routine use of cannabis-based medicinal products for chronic pain. Where these treatments are considered, this is typically on an individual basis following specialist assessment, where there is an unmet clinical need and other evidence-based options have not provided adequate relief or were not tolerated.

Key Takeaways

Understanding the Nature and Impact of Chronic Pain

Evidence-Based Strategies Used in Chronic Pain Management

The Role of Cannabis-Based Medicines Within Specialist Pain Care

Chronic Pain Conditions Commonly Supported in Clinical Services

Setting Realistic Goals and Tracking Meaningful Progress

Ensuring Safety, Suitability, and Strong Clinical Governance

How Care Typically Evolves Over Time and What Patients Can Expect

What Chronic Pain Is?

Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for longer than three months. It extends beyond normal tissue healing time and often continues without an identifiable ongoing injury. It may arise from conditions such as 

  • Neuropathic disorders

  • Arthritis

  • Fibromyalgia 

  • Postsurgical pain

This pain arises from complex changes in the nervous system that amplify pain signals. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) [1] recognises chronic primary and secondary pain as long-term conditions that affect physical function, sleep, mood, and quality of life. The organization even indicates that this condition commonly requires multidisciplinary management rather than single-drug treatment, emphasising rehabilitation, psychological support, and carefully selected pharmacological options.

Common Pain Types

Here are the most clinically recognised types of chronic pain, grouped using standard medical and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) classifications:

  • Nociceptive pain – This results from actual or threatened tissue damage that activates pain receptors (nociceptors). It is typically described as aching, throbbing, or sharp and is often well localised. 

  • Neuropathic pain – It is caused by injury or dysfunction of the peripheral or central nervous system. Patients often report burning, shooting, tingling, or electric-shock sensations.

  • Cancer-related pain – Pain arising directly from tumour growth, tissue invasion, or metastasis, as well as from cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. It may be nociceptive, neuropathic, or mixed in nature.

  • Visceral pain – Pain arising from the internal organs of the chest, abdomen, or pelvis due to inflammation, distension, obstruction, or ischemia. It is often described as deep, cramping, squeezing, or poorly localised, and may be referred to distant areas rather than the exact source.

Why Can Chronic Pain Persist?

Here are the key clinical reasons why chronic pain can persist beyond normal healing time:

  • Ongoing tissue injury or inflammation – Conditions such as arthritis or inflammatory disorders continue to stimulate pain receptors.

  • Peripheral sensitisation – Damaged tissues lower the activation threshold of nociceptors, making normally mild stimuli feel painful.

  • Central sensitisation – Amplification of pain signalling within the spinal cord and brain leads to heightened and prolonged pain perception, even after tissue recovery.

  • Neuropathic mechanisms – Nerve injury or dysfunction generates abnormal, spontaneous pain signals.

  • Psychological factors – Anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and stress can intensify pain perception and reduce coping capacity.

  • Deconditioning – Reduced activity causes muscle weakness and stiffness, perpetuating discomfort.

How Does Chronic Pain Affect Daily Life?

Here are the main clinically recognised ways chronic pain can affect daily life, reflecting findings from UK population studies and guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):

  • Reduced physical function – Difficulty walking, lifting, or completing routine tasks due to stiffness, weakness, or fatigue.

  • Sleep disturbance – Trouble falling or staying asleep, which further heightens pain sensitivity and daytime exhaustion.

  • Mood changes – Increased risk of anxiety, depression, irritability, and reduced resilience linked to persistent discomfort.

  • Cognitive effects – Poor concentration, memory lapses, and “brain fog,” particularly with long-term pain or medications.

  • Social withdrawal – Avoidance of hobbies, exercise, and relationships due to symptom flare-ups.

  • Medication burden – Side effects such as drowsiness, constipation, or dependence risks affecting quality of life.

  • Loss of independence – Greater reliance on family or carers for everyday activities.

Approaches For Chronic Pain Management

Approaches For Chronic Pain Management

Education And Self-Management Support

Education empowers people living with chronic pain to understand their condition, learn pacing strategies, plan for flare-ups, and adopt sleep-focused techniques that enhance daily functioning and quality of life. A recommended practice from the patient inclusion advisor at Leva Clinic is to do three mid-year chronic pain checks and updates, including:

  • Reviewing your flare-up plan

  • Checking current medications

  • Reflect on how your pain management goals are progressing.

Physical And Rehabilitation Approaches

The next thing to focus on is physical and rehabilitation strategies. These are evidence-based components of chronic pain care that aim to restore function rather than eliminate pain alone. In this, you can for:

  • Physiotherapy that uses targeted exercises, manual therapy, and posture correction to improve joint stability, muscle strength, and range of motion. 

  • Graded activity to gradually increase movement tolerance, preventing deconditioning and reducing flare-ups. 

Along with this, setting measurable goals helps track progress objectively. This function-first plan supports independence, reduces disability risk, and improves long-term outcomes by building resilience.

Psychological Approaches Used In Pain Care

Thoughts of discomfort, heightened emotional responses, and stress responses can directly influence how pain is perceived and tolerated. To address this, you need to adopt cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)-informed strategies that help patients recognise unhelpful thinking patterns, manage stress, and reduce fear-avoidant behaviours that limit movement and recovery. Techniques such as relaxation training, mindfulness, goal setting, and pacing build emotional resilience and coping confidence.

Medicines For Chronic Pain

Medication reviews should be individualized, with ongoing reassessment to balance benefits and harms. This includes reducing reliance on opioids where appropriate and considering safer alternatives. In some care models, careful introduction of therapies such as medical cannabis that may have pain-modulating and relaxation effects is discussed to optimise symptom control and help with aspects like sleep quality. For more information, check out our detailed blog on “the chronic pain crisis and medical cannabis”.

Case Study: Vernon's Transformation — From 3,000 Pain Tablets to Renewed Life

Vernon suffered relentless back pain after a slipped disc and decades of intense symptoms that left him bed-bound and dependent on around 3,000 prescription pain tablets yearly, including opioids and benzodiazepines. As per him in January 2022 when he joined Leva Clinic through Project Twenty21, he reported changes in his pain management approach and worked with clinicians to reduce other medications over time, returning to activities like the gym, golf, and travel. His journey highlights the potential of comprehensive pain care models in reducing dependency and improving quality of life.

This is his personal journey of managing pain with medical cannabis, but the results can vary from person to person. Some individuals may experience relief quickly, while others may take more time. Progress depends largely on consistency, overall health, and lifestyle factors.

This is an individual patient experience and does not reflect typical outcomes.

Cannabis-Based Medicines As A Support For Chronic Pain

What Cannabis-Based Medicines Are?

Let’s begin by understanding what medicinal cannabis is for chronic pain and what patients should know

Well, cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) are therapeutic preparations derived from Cannabis sativa that may include cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These products are generally considered when standard treatments haven’t provided adequate relief and under specialist supervision. Patient selection, monitoring, and clear goals are essential parts of safe use. In the UK, observational data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry [2] have explored outcomes for people with chronic pain treated with CBMPs, finding associations with improvements in pain measures and quality of life over several months of follow-up.

How Do Cannabis-Based Medications Work?

How Do Cannabis-Based Medications Work?

When Clinicians May Consider It?

The next question that is usually asked is, “When is the right time for medicinal cannabis prescribing in chronic pain care?”

Specialists may consider cannabis-based medicines when:

  • Pain has persisted for several months or longer

  • Conventional treatments (e.g., physiotherapy, psychological approaches, standard analgesics, or neuropathic pain medicines) have been tried and were ineffective or poorly tolerated

  • Symptoms such as neuropathic pain, sleep disruption, or muscle spasm remain significant

  • The patient is suitable for monitored prescribing and understands the potential benefits and risks

Practical Safety And Monitoring Basics

Safe prescribing as per NICE depends on structured monitoring and follow-up. Typical safeguards include:

  • Starting with low doses and increasing gradually

  • Regular review of pain relief, side effects, mood, and daily functioning

  • Checking for interactions with other medicines

  • Clear advice about driving, operating machinery, and alcohol use

  • Ongoing communication about goals and whether treatment remains helpful

UK-Specific Prescribing And Governance

A study published in Springer Nature [3] details that of 10,684 respondents, just 51.4% were aware that medical cannabis is legal in the United Kingdom. Well, it is legal, but can only be prescribed by a practitioner for medicinal purposes. Here’s how cannabis-based medicines are prescribed for chronic pain in the UK:

In the UK, cannabis-based medicines for chronic pain are prescribed within a regulated medical framework. Prescribing is typically specialist-led and occurs through structured clinical services rather than routine primary care. Oversight, documentation, and safety processes aim to ensure appropriate use.

Where relevant, clinicians may communicate with the patient’s usual doctor (with consent) to maintain continuity of care, particularly regarding other medications and overall health management. Governance aligns with professional standards and guidance applicable across the National Health Service and independent specialist settings.

This approach emphasises:

  • Specialist assessment and prescribing

  • Clear consent and shared decision-making

  • Documented treatment plans and reviews

  • Regulated supply and quality-controlled products

Disclaimer: This content is for general education only and does not provide medical advice. Cannabis based medicinal products are not first-line treatments for chronic pain and may only be considered after specialist assessment when other approaches have not provided adequate relief or were not tolerated. Response varies between individuals, and ongoing monitoring is required.

Conditions Commonly Managed In Chronic Pain Services

The conditions below represent areas seen in specialist pain services. Inclusion of a condition does not mean cannabis-based medicines are routinely recommended; suitability is determined on an individual basis following specialist assessment.

Musculoskeletal / Mechanical Pain

Includes: Arthritis, fibromyalgia-related back and spine pain, joint pain, knee pain, neck pain, sciatica (mechanical causes), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome pain 

What Does It Commonly Involve?

Aching, stiffness, or soreness arising from joints, muscles, or soft tissues. Symptoms often worsen with certain movements, prolonged positions, or physical load.

Common First-Line Approaches

  • Physiotherapy and strengthening exercise

  • Activity pacing and posture advice

  • Weight optimisation where appropriate

  • Simple analgesics or anti-inflammatories

When Should A Cannabis Specialist Review Be Considered?

  • Persistent moderate to severe pain despite structured rehabilitation and standard medicines

  • Intolerance or contraindications to anti-inflammatories or other analgesics

  • Recurrent inflammatory flares where NSAIDs or opioids are unsuitable

Includes: Neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathic pain, facial neuropathic pain, phantom limb pain, Postherpetic neuralgia, Multiple sclerosis pain, sciatica with nerve involvement

What It Commonly Involves

Burning, shooting, electric, or tingling sensations caused by irritated or damaged nerves. Pain may occur without obvious injury and can be very sensitive to touch, temperature, or light pressure.

Common First-Line Approaches

  • Neuropathic-specific medicines (e.g., gabapentinoids or certain antidepressants)

  • Topical treatments

  • Physical therapy and desensitisation

  • Optimising control of underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes, MS)

When Should A Cannabis Specialist Review Be Considered?

  • Significant medication side effects or limited tolerance

  • Sleep disruption or daily function markedly affected

  • Need for additional symptom relief alongside existing therapy under specialist supervision

Central Sensitisation / Widespread Pain Syndromes

Includes: Chronic widespread pain, Fibromyalgia

What It Commonly Involves

Pain affecting multiple body regions with fatigue, poor sleep, and reduced stamina. The nervous system becomes more sensitive, amplifying normal sensory signals.

Common First-Line Approaches

  • Time-contingent (not pain-contingent) activity scheduling.

  • Psychological therapies (e.g., CBT-based approaches)

  • Low-dose neuromodulating medicines (e.g., amitriptyline at night for sleep regulation)

When A Cannabis Specialist Review May Be Considered

  • Central pain hypersensitivity not improved by neuromodulators

Consideration as an additional treatment option in selected cases  for Fibromyalgia, within a comprehensive, multidisciplinary plan

When A Cannabis Specialist Review May Be Considered

Post-Traumatic Or Post-Procedural Pain

Includes: Chronic post-surgical pain, phantom limb pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

What It Commonly Involves

Pain that continues beyond normal healing after injury, surgery, or amputation. May include nerve sensitivity, swelling, colour or temperature changes, and movement difficulties.

Common First-Line Approaches

  • Mirror therapy or graded motor imagery for phantom or CRPS symptoms

  • Occupational therapy to restore functional use of the limb

  • Regional anaesthetic or sympathetic blocks in selected cases, along with scar massage and tactile desensitisation

When A Cannabis Specialist Review May Be Considered

  • Severe neuropathic or mixed pain limiting rehabilitation participation

  • Need for additional symptom control to enable engagement in therapy

  • Failure of desensitisation and neuropathic medicines

Includes: Endometriosis pain, fibro and chest pain, inflammatory bowel disease-related pain, cancer pain

What It Commonly Involves

Deep, cramping, or pressure-like pain from internal organs or inflammation. May be cyclical, flare-based, or associated with digestive or hormonal changes.

Common First-Line Approaches

  • Disease-targeted therapy (hormonal suppression, anti-inflammatory biologics, oncology-directed care)

  • Disease-specific medications

  • Pelvic floor physiotherapy for pelvic pain

  • Dietetic or hormonal management where relevant

  • Dietetic strategies (low FODMAP, trigger-food reduction)

When A Cannabis Specialist Review May Be Considered

  • Persistent pain despite good control of the underlying disease

  • Difficulty tolerating standard analgesics

  • Associated symptoms such as poor sleep, appetite loss, or nausea

  • Considered as an alternative therapy for endometriosis pain within specialist-led care

For patients wanting to better understand pelvic and endometriosis-related pain, Dr. Charlotte Small recently joined Boots Online Doctor for an educational webinar discussing symptom recognition, treatment pathways, and modern pain management options, including specialist-led approaches for persistent pain. You can check it out here.

Headache And Craniofacial Pain Disorders

Includes: Migraine, facial pain

What It Commonly Involves

Recurrent or episodic head or facial pain, sometimes with nausea, light or sound sensitivity, or triggered by stress, hormonal change, or environmental factors.

Common First-Line Approaches

  • Attack-specific medicines (e.g., triptans for migraine)

  • Preventive treatments (e.g., beta-blockers, CGRP-targeted options, or nerve stabilisers)

  • Trigger mapping (hormonal cycles, dehydration, screen use)

  • Neurology or dental/ENT review if needed

When A Cannabis Specialist Review May Be Considered

  • Frequent attacks despite two or more preventive strategies

  • Medication-overuse headaches limiting standard treatments

  • Poor tolerance of sedating or cardiovascular drugs

Mixed Or Complex Presentations

Includes: Other chronic pain presentations, multi-site or overlapping conditions

What It Commonly Involves

Pain with multiple contributing factors (musculoskeletal, neuropathic, and central). Symptoms may not fit a single diagnosis and often fluctuate in intensity and location.

Common first-line approaches

  • Holistic assessment

  • Multidisciplinary rehabilitation

  • Psychological and behavioural support

  • Medication optimisation

When A Cannabis Specialist Review May Be Considered

  • Multiple standard treatments tried with limited benefit

  • Polypharmacy causing side effects or interactions

  • Suitability for monitored, specialist prescribing as part of an individualised care plan

Setting Goals And Measuring Progress Without Overpromising

Setting Goals And Measuring Progress Without Overpromising

What Does " Progress " Mean?

When you get cannabis based medication incorporated in your pain management plan, the significance of progress changes. It is measured in functional terms, not in guaranteed pain elimination. So, rather than focusing on a single number (e.g., pain score), clinicians emphasise improvements in things that matter to patients’ lives:

  • Function-first outcomes: better sleep quality, increased activity tolerance, ability to perform daily tasks, and improved flare-up management

  • Quality of life goals: less interference from symptoms in social, occupational, and personal roles

Case Study: Emma’s Journey to Relief After 25 Years of Pain

Emma endured chronic pain and multiple undiagnosed symptoms for 25 years before connecting with Leva Clinic. After car accidents and years of ineffective treatments, she was finally correctly diagnosed with multiple conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis and fibromyalgia. She said that traditional medications left her fatigued and struggling with daily life. Since beginning medical cannabis through the clinic, she reported improvements in some symptoms and daily functioning, enabling more activity and better emotional well-being. Integrating her treatment also shows how medical cannabis can support better sleep, a known benefit linked to improved pain outcomes in chronic conditions, enhancing overall quality of life.

But this is her personal journey of managing pain with medical cannabis, and the results can vary from person to person. Some individuals may experience relief quickly, while others may take more time. Progress depends largely on consistency, overall health, and lifestyle factors.

This is an individual patient experience and does not reflect typical outcomes.

How Is Progress Tracked?

Progress is systematically monitored using tools and conversations that capture the patient’s experience:

  • Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): Standardised questionnaires track changes in pain interference, sleep, and quality of life over time. 

  • Functional milestones: Personal, measurable goals (e.g., walking distance, sleep duration, daily tasks) are reviewed against baseline ability.

  • Side-effect monitoring: Regular checks identify tolerability issues such as sedation, dizziness, or cognitive effects.

  • Medication review outcomes: Ongoing clinician–patient reviews assess benefit, adjust dosing, and decide whether to continue, modify, or stop treatment.

Because cannabis-based medicines are tightly regulated in the UK, NICE provides guidelines to monitor and adjust doses [4]that are part of the shared care plan between the specialist prescriber, any other prescriber (e.g., GP), the patient, and carers. This includes documenting when treatment might be stopped, how reactions are managed, and how progress will be recorded.

Adjusting The Plan Over Time

Progress isn’t one-off, it’s iterative and collaborative:

  • Review loops: Scheduled reviews (e.g., every 4–12 weeks initially) to assess progress against goals and overall function and alter dosage accordingly.

  • Document shared decisions: Every change, continuation, pause, dose alteration, or stopping treatment is discussed with the patient and recorded as a mutual decision.

As per NICE [4], setting goals this way aligns with best practice in chronic pain care: making plans patient-centred, function-focused, and evidence-informed, and ensuring cannabis-based medicines are just one monitored element of a broader rehabilitation strategy.

Safety, Suitability, And Clinical Governance

Safety Considerations 

Safety screening happens before prescribing and continues throughout treatment.

  • Appropriate patient selection: Typically considered only after failure or intolerance of first-line pharmacological and non-pharmacological options

  • Medical history review: Cardiovascular disease, significant liver impairment, pregnancy/breastfeeding, or substance use history may affect suitability

  • Mental health assessment: Caution with personal or family history of psychosis, uncontrolled anxiety, or severe mood disorders

  • Driving and safety advice: THC-containing medicines may impair reaction time; patients receive clear legal and safety guidance

Clinical Governance Essentials

Clinical governance ensures prescribing is safe, accountable, and evidence-informed rather than ad hoc. Prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products is carried out by doctors listed on the GMC specialist register, in line with UK regulatory requirements. These medicines are typically unlicensed, and prescribing decisions are made on a named-patient basis where there is a clear clinical rationale. Decisions are documented and subject to ongoing review, audit, and multidisciplinary oversight.

  • Specialist-led prescribing: initiated and overseen by clinicians experienced in pain medicine

  • Documented eligibility criteria: prior treatments, goals, and rationale clearly recorded

  • Informed consent: benefits, uncertainties, alternatives, and risks discussed transparently

  • Baseline outcome measures: pain interference, sleep, and functional status were recorded before starting

  • Structured review schedule: early follow-up (weeks), then regular reassessment

  • Clear prescribing protocols: product selection, dose titration, and monitoring standards

  • Audit and quality assurance: anonymised data used to evaluate safety and effectiveness

  • Regulated supply chains: medicines sourced from licensed producers meeting quality standards

This medical cannabis UK law for clinical governance in chronic pain model reflects NICE’s position that, where evidence is still evolving, robust monitoring and accountability are essential rather than broad routine use. 

What To Expect Over Time?

What To Expect Over Time

Typical Care Sequence

  • Weeks 0–2: introduction phase, where low doses are trialled, and patients learn how their body responds

  • Weeks 2–6: gentle optimisation, with small adjustments to timing or formulation to improve sleep, comfort, or daytime clarity

  • Weeks 6–12: consolidation phase, where benefits often become more consistent and daily routines feel easier

  • 3–6 months: stability and habit-building, with fewer fluctuations and a clearer understanding of the most helpful schedule

  • Longer term: maintenance with periodic reviews, focusing on sustaining function and minimising medication burden

This timeline helps set realistic expectations: steady gains that accumulate over time.

What Can Patients Do Between Reviews?

  • Observe which times of day symptoms are best controlled and align activities accordingly

  • Space doses consistently to maintain even symptom coverage

  • Track “wins” such as fewer night awakenings or shorter recovery after activity

  • Maintain hydration and regular meals to reduce light-headedness or fatigue

  • Build gentle routines (stretching, walking, relaxation) that complement symptom control

  • Share updates with family or carers to support safe, confident use

These habits often help translate symptom relief into tangible day-to-day improvements.

When Plans Are Reconsidered

Plan changes are typically proactive and constructive, aimed at refining success rather than reacting to problems.

  • Once stability is achieved, dosing may be simplified for convenience

  • If sleep improves, evening timing may be prioritised over daytime use

  • If function increases, activity goals may be expanded to build confidence

  • If symptoms fluctuate seasonally or hormonally, schedules may be adapted

  • If outcomes are strong, review intervals may be extended

This flexible approach allows care to evolve with progress, keeping treatment efficient, personalised, and aligned with the patient’s goals.

Conclusion

Chronic pain care is evolving, with medical cannabis being explored in carefully regulated specialist settings for people who need additional support beyond conventional treatments. But for the right treatment, you need the best clinicians.  Leva is known to provide structured, multidisciplinary pathways that combine medical cannabis with rehabilitation and education, helping patients move forward with confidence and clearer control over their symptoms. Fill out your details to connect with our team and find out how we are the best fit for you.

Specialist services may offer structured, multidisciplinary approaches combining medical, physical, and psychological support. If you would like to understand whether a specialist assessment is appropriate, you can seek advice from a qualified clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I feel “high” on prescribed cannabis medicines?

Medical formulations are tailored for symptom control, often balancing CBD and THC. Many patients experience relaxation or improved sleep rather than intoxication, especially with cautious dosing and gradual titration.

How quickly might benefits be noticed?

Some people notice better sleep or relaxation within days, while broader functional improvements develop over weeks as dosing is optimised and the body adapts to treatment.

Will it affect my ability to work or concentrate?

Many patients are able to continue normal routines, although some may require adjustments during treatment initiation. Early treatment may require adjustment time, but careful dosing aims to maintain daytime clarity while supporting comfort and restorative sleep.

Can older adults safely use medical cannabis?

Yes, with appropriate assessment. Lower starting doses and closer monitoring are often used to enhance tolerability and minimise side effects while supporting comfort and mobility.

What should I prepare before a pain consultation?

Bring your medication list, previous treatments tried, recent letters or scans, symptom timeline, and personal goals so clinicians can quickly understand your history and tailor options efficiently.

How do clinicians choose which option to try first?

They consider pain type, medical history, prior responses, lifestyle needs, and safety profile, then select the lowest-risk, evidence-informed option most likely to improve daily function.

References

[1] Chronic pain (primary and secondary): assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193 

[2] Harris M, Erridge S, Ergisi M, Nimalan D, Kawka M, Salazar O, Ali R, Loupasaki K, Holvey C, Coomber R, Usmani A, Sajad M, Hoare J, Rucker JJ, Platt M, Sodergren MH. UK Medical Cannabis registry: an analysis of clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for chronic pain conditions. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2022 Apr;15(4):473-485. doi: 10.1080/17512433.2022.2017771. Epub 2021 Dec 31. PMID: 34937477. 

[3] Erridge, S., Coomber, R. & Sodergren, M.H. Medical cannabis, CBD wellness products and public awareness of evolving regulations in the United Kingdom. J Cannabis Res 4, 56 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-022-00165-6 

[4] Cannabis-based medicinal products: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng144/chapter/Recommendations 

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