Treating Nail-Patella Syndrome – The Benefits of Medical Marijuana

There are indications that medical marijuana is a great treatment option for people with nail patella syndrome. Scientists have revealed that the best thing about using medical cannabis for nail patella syndrome is the fact that it can help with many of the associated complications like pain, glaucoma as well as kidney disease. It is apparent that pain management is a serious concern for patients with nail patella syndrome and the long term use of painkillers can cause damage to the kidneys, thereby resulting in renal failure.

Nail patella syndrome, which is also known as Fong syndrome or hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia (HOOD), is a rare genetic disorder that mostly affects fingernails. This condition may also affect joints throughout the body, including the knees and other body systems like the kidney as well as the nervous system. Nail patella syndrome is not a common condition and it is estimated that 1 out of 50,000 individuals have it. This health condition is genetic and that explains why it is more common in people whose parents or other family relations have it. Once you have the disorder, your children have a 50 percent chance of also having it.

It is also possible to develop the nail patella syndrome, even if your parents didn’t have it. Scientific research has pointed out to the fact that people can develop this condition by a mutation of the LMX1B gene, even though they are still yet to understand how mutation leads to nail patella.

Most of the symptoms of nail patella syndrome are detectable as early as during infancy, although some other symptoms may start manifesting later in life. The symptoms are often experienced in the nails, knees, pelvis and elbows and they usually include absent fingernails, discoloration, unusually thin nails, as well as triangular shaped lunular. Some of the less common symptoms of nail patella syndrome are disfigured small toe nails, protrusions from bones in and around the knee, limited range of motion in the elbow, general hyperextension of the joints, eye problems/glaucoma, back pain and lower muscle mass.

There is no cure for nail patella syndrome and the treatment rather focuses on managing the symptoms. Pain relief medications such as acetaminophen and opioids are mostly used in managing the symptoms of nail patella syndrome. Physical therapies, splinting and surgery may also be treatment options for sufferers of nail patella syndrome.

Research has suggested that medical marijuana can actually treat the following symptoms of nail patella syndrome:

  • Knee and Joint Pain

It is apparent that joint abnormalities can result in severe pains, whereas medical marijuana is a well-documented effective pain killer. Joints can also become swollen or inflamed as a result of nail patella syndrome. Well, the good news is that medical marijuana can effectively treat this symptom since tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the terpene beta-caryophyllene (E-BCP) found in cannabis have been proven to have anti-inflammatory properties.

  • Kidney Disease

Another symptom of nail patella syndrome that can be treated with medical marijuana is kidney disease. The anti-inflammatory properties of medical marijuana helps in lowering the risk of kidney disease by promoting tissue repair. CBD in medical marijuana also acts as a detoxifier by reducing oxidation stress. It should be noted that oxidative stress increases the likelihood of pathophysiological conditions such as kidney disease.

Medical marijuana equally works for nail patella syndrome patients with renal failure. This assertion can be explained by the fact that medical marijuana reduces spasms as well as increases appetite since kidney diseases can easily lead to loss of appetite and weight loss.

  • Glaucoma

The use of medical cannabis can significantly slow down the progression of glaucoma by relieving ocular pressure. It is worthy to note that the neuroprotection and vasodilation properties of medical marijuana do not only decrease blood pressure, but it also assists in the treatment of glaucoma. According to a study that was conducted in 2012, the researchers found out that administering medical cannabis as a topical could reduce eye pressure for between 8 to 12 hours.

Unlike many standard medications, you can consume medical marijuana in a number of ways in a bid to treat nail patella syndrome. Of course, each method may have its own benefits and drawbacks, but it is evident that smoking as well as vaping are the two most common ways of medicating with medical marijuana. Both methods involve inhaling the medication, thereby making you experience the benefits quickly. Once the medical marijuana has been inhaled, it spreads to the rest of the body faster through the bloodstream. It is also possible to consume medical cannabis in less traditional forms like pills or products like edibles.

It is imperative that more research be done on the use of medical cannabis in treating nail patella syndrome. Moreover, patients are encouraged to consult with their doctors before opting for medical marijuana as a complementary treatment of nail patella syndrome.

Marijuana strains reported to help with Nail-Patella Syndrome:

 

How To Get Medical Marijuana

 

If you are a resident of a legal state interested in trying medical marijuana to treat Nail-Patella Syndrome or other medical conditions, you will first need to consult with a certified doctor in order to get a medical marijuana card. To get started, simply fill out the MMJ patient registration form, press submit and a physician or clinic representative will contact you as available.

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