Is It Safe To Have Medical Marijuana For Pain After Bowel Resection Surgery?

Brief Answer:
Benefits versus risks unclear...

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your query.

I understand that you are considering the option of medical marijuana for your pain relief after your recent bowel resection surgery. Medical marijuana has been proposed as an alternative to allopathic medication for a variety of conditions. Some of the popular ones are for nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, for terminal illnesses like cancer, AIDS, etc. and for chronic pain.

Now, though there is some medical evidence to support these claims, there is a lot of uncertainty whether the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. Recent studies and scientific literature reviews show that the long term adverse effects of marijuana may be more prominent than the short-term benefits that the drug confers.

Regarding your question regarding the role of marijuana in pain management, there is some evidence about its efficacy in chronic pain - especially neuropathic pain and pain due to terminal illnesses. But there is no strong evidence for its efficacy in the management of acute or post-operative pain.

Moreover, there is a risk of dependence and other long term side effects if used for a prolonged period. So, whether the benefits clearly outweigh the risks is doubtful. So, in my opinion, it may not be a the best option to try medical marijuana for you post-operative pain relief.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist

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