Health is the most precious thing we have.
As soon as chronic pain—such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rheumatism—sets in, our daily comfort is disrupted.
These types of pain mainly manifest as a localized inflammatory reaction, which can vary in intensity depending on the case. When such inflammatory pain is not treated promptly, it can quickly lead to other related pain and become a real obstacle to maintaining our daily activities and lifestyle.
There are many treatments available on the market to relieve joint pain, ranging from medications to hot water bottles, as well as acupuncture and targeted exercise. However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by this multitude of options—and to verify their actual effectiveness.
What is osteoarthritis?
What are the characteristics of joint pain?
Is CBD effective against osteoarthritis and joint pain?
CBD is sometimes mistakenly labeled as a purely recreational substance.
In this article, we’ve compiled all the information you need to understand what osteoarthritis is, what CBD is, and finally , how CBD works to treat this type of inflammatory pain.
Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain: Definitions
Osteoarthritis is considered the most common joint disease in the world. In the popular imagination, it was initially thought to be primarily associated with old age. But today, it has been established that osteoarthritis can affect anyone starting at age 50.
With nearly 10 million French people suffering from osteoarthritis and joint pain, alleviating and treating these conditions has thus become a public health emergency.
But what exactly is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is defined as a joint disease that affects one in two people over the age of fifty. This disease involves the degeneration of cartilage, leading to its weakening or even gradual destruction. This process naturally causes pain of varying severity, depending on the stage of the osteoarthritis and the treatments being used.
When performing everyday activities, suffering from osteoarthritis, joint pain, or any other type of rheumatic condition can be particularly debilitating, unwittingly limiting the range of activities and tasks we are able to perform.
In fact, each of our joints is lined with cartilage. The role of cartilage is to facilitate our movements by helping our bones and joints glide smoothly against one another.
When we suffer from osteoarthritis, this internal mechanism is severely compromised as the cartilage gradually deteriorates. Movements then become painful, leading to significant inflammatory reactions.
It is important to note that no joint is spared by osteoarthritis.
Fingers, knees, hips, and even the spine are all joints that can be affected and thus lose mobility due to this disease.
In terms of statistics, it is estimated that osteoarthritis affecting the spine is found in approximately 70% of people over the age of 60.
How is osteoarthritis treated?
Like any disease, osteoarthritis and other joint pains can be treated in a variety of ways, ranging from the most chemical-based to the most natural.
A distinction is thus made between drug-based treatments and non-drug-based treatments. Among drug-based treatments, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroid injections are among the most commonly recommended options.
Pain relievers, on the other hand, are based on acetaminophen, which relieves pain and slows the progression of the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs, meanwhile, primarily target the symptoms. Finally, corticosteroid injections are the most aggressive treatment method, but they are essential when osteoarthritis is severe and joint pain is persistent and intense.
In any case, let’s keep in mind that such drug treatments are not harmless; medications always have significant side effects that can eventually cause problems in other areas. It is therefore worth considering so-called natural treatments, such as CBD, as an alternative.
CBD and Joint Pain: How Effective Is It?
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD (cannabidiol) have been extensively studied for a number of years, paving the way for potential new types of natural treatments without side effects for patients.
In line with this, a 2015 study highlighted the benefits of CBD for people with osteoarthritis and various forms of rheumatism, providing significant and very rapid relief from the associated symptoms.
In particular, this study highlighted the abilityof CBD oil, when applied topically to the affected area, to reduce inflammation. The benefits of CBD are thus similar to those of standard pharmaceutical treatments such as pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the side effects—such as drowsiness and loss of concentration—that these medications cause.
Another benefit of using CBD to relieve joint pain is how quickly the effects set in and how long they last.
Compared to medications that can take several days to take effect—depending on the individual—and whose effects are temporary, using CBD—especially on a regular basis—promotes an almost immediate and long-lasting reduction in inflammatory symptoms.
To take advantage of this concept of long-lasting relief and gradually alleviate various everyday joint pains, it’s entirely possible to combine several different methods of CBD consumption. For example, you can apply CBD oil directly to painful areas and drink CBD herbal teas throughout the day.
CBD is a completely safe substance; there are no real contraindications regarding its form or dosage, and, most importantly, it poses no risk of addiction. It is therefore a natural and effective way to combat osteoarthritis and any joint pain you may experience.
