How Can Cannabidiol Help Joint Pain
Musculoskeletal pain is a common severe pain, especially in the back and joints. Studies link joint pain to arthritis, currently affecting over 50 million United States adults. The condition limits physical activities and can cause disability. Despite the pain in the hips and hands, the knee is a common joint pain site.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the condition is extremely painful. Statistics show that approximately 25% of individuals with arthritis, equivalent to 15 million, experience severe pain, rating 7 over 10. Furthermore, more than half the arthritis patients experience persistent pain, meaning they’re usually in pain for most days or weeks in the three months.
With these statistics, it’s not amazing that most patients with joint pain will experience anxiety and depression.
Hope and Help
Help is usually hard for individuals with joint pain. Sometimes medics prescribe opiates to alleviate the pain. However, this medication has various adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, dizziness, and the risk of addiction.
Over decades, most individuals have resorted to over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen as remedies. Nonetheless, these drugs don’t provide sufficient relief. Experts also recommend lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity and weight loss programs, which most individuals find hard to achieve.
Various studies are continuously backing cannabinoids ( a cannabis extract) to alleviate pain. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t result in a ‘high’ feeling. You can take CBD in various ways to help you relieve joint pain. The popular ways include adding CBD liquids to your foods, taking capsules orally, consuming as an oral spray, using CBD products to make gels or creams, and applying them on your painful joints.
Most researchers are still studying the exact reason why CBD is effective in alleviating joint pain. However, one theory shows that CBD attaches to specialized immune and brain systems. The CB2 will help suppress inflammation and pain. Furthermore, CBD has effectively stimulated the body system to produce beneficial natural cannabinoids that attach to CB2 receptors.
Despite the varying mechanism of action, numerous individuals switching to CBD to relieve their joint pain reports positive results.
What Does Research Say on CBD and Joint Pain?
For many years there have been various barriers or restrictions to conducting research or studies on CBD. Despite most states, territories, and districts (approximately 60%) legalizing medical marijuana, the federal government maintains that cannabis is illegal. The federal government's stance has hindered most studies. Furthermore, the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug in the same category as ecstasy, LSD, and heroin. Thus, researchers must obtain special licenses to consult the study.
Nevertheless, the Drug Enforcement Administration has previously agreed with some researchers and loosened restrictions. Health professionals and patients hope the additional research will show how and whether CBD can alleviate various medical issues.
Most patients using CBD for joint pain base their arguments or evidence on earlier research. For instance, a review of 157 case studies that researchers published in the ‘Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management” researched the different uses of cannabinoids. The research focused on a category of chemical compounds, including CBD, to treat various hard-to-treat pain. One author concluded that adding CBD products to the pharmacological resources shows great promise for treating pain.
Importantly, some states have approved Sativex for treating neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and alleviating pain in patients with intractable cancer pain since 2007. This drug contains appropriate CBD and THC levels. Certain research in the ‘Journal of Rheumatology” shows how safe and effective CBD is in relieving rheumatoid arthritis pain.
What to Consider Before Using CBD Products
With the inadequate research and legalization of CBD oil in some states, there is awesome confusion and misunderstanding about using CBD. Nevertheless, keep the following in mind if you decide to use these products:
● The FDA doesn’t approve CBD for joint pain. So far, the board has only approved CBD for two severe and rare childhood epilepsy.
● It’ll be vital to research the local laws before purchasing your products, as CBD isn't legal in all states.
● It’s wise to try with small amounts when starting, as the FDA doesn't approve or regulate the products.
Despite most individuals being well-tolerant to CBD products, some individuals may experience some side effects, such as nausea, trouble sleeping, fatigue, etc.
● With some individuals allergic to CBD oil, it’s wise to test it on small skin areas to check for any allergic reaction.
● Lastly, talking to your primary physicians before trying CBD products will be good.
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