CBD for Joint Pain Relief

Joint pains are usually unbearable. Fortunately, CBD's anti-inflammatory properties alleviate joint pains. Herein, the major causes of joint pain and the benefits of CBD for joint pain are highlighted.

Many people suffer from joint pain that affects the hips, knees, spine, hands, and feet. Depending on the source, the pain might be persistent or fluctuate. Moreover, the joints may feel stiff and ache frequently. Some patients describe joint pains as a "grating" or "burning" feeling. In addition, the joint may be tight in the morning but loosen up and feel better with exercise and movement. However, the discomforts may worsen if you overdo it.

People who suffer from joint discomfort may find it difficult to carry out the most basic chores. A person's quality of life might be negatively impacted by severe joint discomfort. Treating pain isn't enough; it's also important to address the underlying causes of the problem.

What Might be the Source of Joint Discomfort?

The following are the most typical triggers of persistent joint pain:

Osteoarthritis

Over time, the cartilage, the protective cushion between the bones, wears away, causing frequent arthritis. The joints stiffen and hurt. Osteoarthritis is a slow-progressing condition that often strikes in middle age and majorly affects the spine, knees, hands, and hips

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is a long-term inflammatory condition that causes joint swelling and discomfort. Fingers and wrists are the most often affected joints because of deformities.

Gout

Crystals from the body build up in the joint, resulting in excruciating agony and swelling. The big toe is the most common location for this problem.

Bursitis

The most common places it occurs are the hip, knee, elbow, and shoulders. It affects the fluid-filled sacs that condition the tendons and bones in the joint

Infections Caused by Viruses

Joint mobility might be uncomfortable if you have a rash or a fever. Broken bones or sprains are examples of injuries that can cause joint pain.

Tendonitis

This condition is caused by inflammation of the tendons. The tendons link bone and muscles, and the most common culprit of tendonitis is overusing the heel, elbow, or shoulder, although it may also occur in other places.

Benefits of CBD for Joint pain

The Cannabis sativa plant has hundreds of cannabinoid compounds that can improve your physical and mental health. THC and CBD are the two most studied cannabinoids. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana and can be consumed through ingestion and inhalation. Fortunately, ingesting or inhaling CBD oil does not harm your brain unless the oil contains harmful products such as pesticides. Consequently, a small but vocal minority favors CBD for medicinal purposes.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes stiffness, tenderness, and joint discomfort. Other regions of the body might also be affected by RA. According to Katchan et al. (2016), CBD may boost the immune system by altering the immune response. It may also reduce inflammation by reducing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting T cell proliferation in autoimmune and systemic inflammation.

Reducing Inflammation

Some joint aches, such as arthritis, have been associated with inflammation. Because it's an antioxidant, CBD helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. According to Ekstrand et al. (2021), CBD may also reduce inflammation by avoiding a loss in microelements like zinc and selenium, which are crucial agents for a healthy immune response, and may lessen neuropathic pain like fibromyalgia/ it may also lessen neuropathic back pain opposing hyperalgesia, which is an abnormally heightened pain response.

Reducing pain Signals Transmitted to the Brain

According to Ibeas et al. (2015), the neurotransmitter adenosine is inhibited in the Brain by promoting the reuptake of CBD, which increases the Brain's adenosine levels. CBD may also inhibit the transmission of pain signals to the Brain's processing centers by binding to the TPRV1 gene, which is involved in inflammation and pain.

Promoting Healthier Emotions and Sounder Sleep

Chronic pain affects various parts of your life, including everyday activities, social interactions, your job, and even your mental health. According to Shannon et al. (2019), CBD may help you relax or sleep better if you have joint discomfort. The entourage effect of THC, terpenes, and other cannabinoids is regarded to be the most important factor in improving sleep, according to Sarris et al. (2020).

How to Use CBD for pain

CBD is available in different forms. You are at liberty to choose the one that suits you best.

Topicals

Creams, ointments, and salve are examples of CBD topicals. They are the best options for treating neuropathic, arthritic, and other types of localized pain. Because topicals can be applied directly to the skin, they seem to have no psychotropic effects. Arthritic pain, in particular, has been proven to benefit from topicals.

Oral products

People with systemic inflammatory disorders like multiple Sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and full-body pains induced by neurological conditions like fibromyalgia or cancer pain may benefit more from CBD ingestion. To maximize absorption, pick CBD products that include beneficial oils since CBD is fat-soluble.

Vaping

Vaping CBD has grown in popularity as a delivery method. Vape uses a CBD oil cartridge put into a vaping pen instead of rolling a joint. While some may believe that vaping is less harmful to one's lungs than smoking, this is not always the case. Vaping full spectrum CBD can cause a "high" sensation, especially if the THC levels are higher than 0.3%. On the other hand, vaping CBD isolate or broad-spectrum oil should not produce any intoxicating effects.

Is CBD a Good Fit for You?

Before buying CBD products, it is important to seek medical advice, especially if you are consuming other drugs. Whether or not a person may consume CBD products depends partly on where they live in the United States. In certain jurisdictions, the use of CBD products is prohibited.

CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation in the joints. Furthermore, it has analgesic properties that reduce muscle and joint pains. CBD also improves sleep quality by reducing high anxiety levels.

First-time users of CBD products should start with a lower dose of CBD. If the product seems to work for you, you may gradually raise your dose.

Conclusion

It's unclear whether CBD or CBD oil is best for managing joint pain, but experts believe both medicines have great promise. Scientists are continually uncovering how CBD can aid in fighting illnesses and alleviating pain and its accompanying symptoms. They are also trying to discover how CBD works alone rather than in conjunction with the whole plant. Some CBD products might relieve people with chronic pains without generating tolerance or reliance. If you're interested in using CBD for chronic pain, seek medical advice. Your doctor can assist you in determining an appropriate beginning dose.

References

Katchan, V., David, P., & Shoenfeld, Y. (2016). Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review. Autoimmunity reviews, 15(6), 513-528.

Ekstrand, B., Scheers, N., Rasmussen, M. K., Young, J. F., Ross, A. B., & Landberg, R. (2021). Brain foods-the role of diet in brain performance and health. Nutrition reviews, 79(6), 693-708.

Ibeas Bih, C., Chen, T., Nunn, A. V., Bazelot, M., Dallas, M., & Whalley, B. J. (2015). Molecular targets of cannabidiol in neurological disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 699-730.

Sarris, J., Sinclair, J., Karamacoska, D., Davidson, M., & Firth, J. (2020). Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review. BMC psychiatry, 20(1), 1-14.

Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: a large case series. The Permanente Journal, 23.