A RECENT study conducted with the UK Medical Cannabis Registry evaluated the impact of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) on patients suffering from chronic pain due to hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). The research, which focused on outcomes such as pain reduction and quality of life improvements, reveals promising results for these patients, suggesting cannabis could be an effective therapeutic option.
The case series included 161 patients, all of whom were assessed at multiple intervals over 18 months, with key metrics including the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Visual Analog Scale, and Brief Pain Inventory. Statistically significant improvements were noted in pain severity and interference, sleep quality, and general health-related quality of life (P < 0.001). Notably, changes were also observed in anxiety levels, with a decrease in General Anxiety Disorder Seven-Item Scale (GAD-7) scores. Of the participants, 31% reported one or more adverse events, most of which were moderate in nature, such as headaches. Despite the occurrence of side effects, the overall tolerance to CBMPs remained high, with no significant safety concerns at the 18-month mark. The findings suggest that CBMPs offer potential benefits for individuals with HSD and hEDS experiencing chronic pain. However, the study acknowledges limitations in its design and calls for further randomized controlled trials to confirm these results. This research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain, particularly in complex and poorly understood conditions like HSD and hEDS. Healthcare professionals may want to consider this growing body of evidence when discussing treatment options with patients suffering from these challenging disorders. Reference: Dickinson M et al. UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An Analysis of Outcomes of Medical Cannabis Therapy for Hypermobility-Associated Chronic Pain. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2025. doi:10.1002/acr2.70024. Anaya Malik | AMJ
