CBD for Knee Pain: How Cannabidiol May Provide the Relief You Need

With so much talk around the topic of CBD for health and wellbeing, many people find themselves wondering whether their own lives could benefit from CBD. The answer to this depends on what aid you are looking for from CBD. There is a lot of promising research on the subject so far, but much still needs to be done. This article will address the possibilities of CBD for knee pain, while touching on some other potential benefits as well.

What Is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is a cannabinoid that exists in both major kinds of cannabis– hemp and marijuana. There are two main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. One of these is CBD and the other is THC. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the major active compound in marijuana, and causes the infamous “high.” CBD does not cause such intoxication. However, the substance can give a sense of relaxation and calm, among other things.

Benefits Of CBD

Many people who have looked into the potential benefits of CBD are aware of its use for certain types of epilepsy. However, that and CBD for knee pain are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a host of other benefits that people across the globe are attributing to CBD. Some of these are as follows:

Potential To Reduce Anxiety

Mental disorders can have a devastating effect, not only on the individual suffering but also on friends and family. While prescribed pharmaceutical drugs are the most common treatments, many are seeking natural remedies. Stress and anxiety are some of the most supported uses for cannabidiol. Many studies back up the anecdotal evidence of everyday users.

Could Help Acne Sufferers

Acne affects a lot of people, in fact, approximately 9% of the world’s population suffer from this skin condition. One of the factors which may cause a person to develop acne is the overproduction of sebum. CBD oil may be able to play a role in reducing sebum production in the body and hence providing a natural treatment for people with acne. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can also ease this difficult skin condition.

May Alleviate Cancer-Related Symptoms

Cancer treatments can cause all sorts of nasty side effects. From nausea and vomiting to significant pain, cancer patients are all too well aware of how the treatment impacts the body. 

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects from chemotherapy. Studies show that CBD can ease these symptoms. To have one natural product in the mix with the myriad of other cancer drugs can be comforting to patients.

Heart Health

High blood pressure contributes to all sorts of health conditions and may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. There is research indicating that CBD is able to reduce resting blood pressure. CBD acts as a vasodilator, which can help balance high blood pressure. Its calming effects can also contribute to lowering blood pressure.

Pain Relief

Living with pain can be debilitating and have an impact on every aspect of the person’s daily life. Research shows CBD’s effectiveness in reducing pain perception from various causes.

CBD for Knee Pain

To understand the use of CBD for knee pain, let us look at how the compound interacts with the human body. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) works within the body to regulate a variety of bodily functions. These include sleep, immune response, appetite, and pain. The system usually operates by producing its own endocannabinoids— neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors. When there aren’t enough internal cannabinoids, you can take supplements like CBD to boost the ECS. This will help it get back to easing some of the body’s pain.

Knee pain is a very common type of pain, as the knee is a very complex joint. Symptoms of knee pain can vary, but often include some of the following:

– Stiffness

– Swelling

– Warmth to the touch

– Redness around the knee

– A feeling of weakness in the knee

– Difficulty in fully straightening the leg

– Sounds that resemble pops or crunches when moving the knee.

Many people who suffer from such pain struggle to put weight on the knee. Knee pain is one type that can truly keep a person from accomplishing any daily activities that involve walking.

Causes Of Knee Pain

The cause of knee pain varies greatly from one person to the next. Often the cause can fall into one of the following categories:

Injury

Knee injuries can happen when an individual is engaging in sports or is simply moving around the home. Such injuries may be in the form of a strain, a sprain, or a tear.

Tendonitis

When a tendon in the knee swells up it can cause a considerable amount of pain, resulting in the condition of tendonitis. Overuse is a common cause of tendonitis. 

Arthritis

Another cause of potential knee pain is arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and while it tends to affect more people over the age of 50. However, it can also affect people much younger.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain tends to be a chronic pain condition. This type of pain can happen when the nervous system is not functioning correctly. To understand how neuropathic pain happens it is helpful to take a brief look inside the nervous system. The spinal cord and the brain together make up the central nervous system. Then the peripheral nerves spread out through the rest of the body to the organs, the arms, the legs etc.

Usually, neuropathic pain is not due to an injury or illness. Rather, the body unnecessarily sends pain signals to the brain. The pain may be a shooting or burning pain. It may be constant or intermittent. Unfortunately, neuropathic pain can get worse as time progresses.

Conclusion: CBD For Knee Pain

Suffering from knee pain can be a debilitating condition. While there are many types of pain medication, some can have uncomfortable side effects or be addictive. Opioids are a common pain relief prescription but can cause serious constipation and are highly addictive. CBD has no serious side effects and is not addictive. Over the counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are also popular. These are “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” and act by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme. Studies show that CBDA (the precursor to CBD) affects COX-2 in a similar way, providing similar anti-inflammatory pain relief. Therefore, with CBD you have the potential for a multi-faceted supplement that is all natural and safe.