As people age, their joints often begin to hurt. They may try a variety of approaches, from taking OTC pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen to swallowing home remedies such as gin-soaked raisins or grape juice and Certo. You may not have heard of CBD cream to alleviate joint pain, but it is gradually becoming popular.
CBD Cream Speeds Runner’s Recovery:
Q. I’m a female distance runner who just completed my usual 10-mile run. About 15 years ago, I had knee pain. An MRI showed a torn meniscus. I limped out of the doctor’s office after he gave me alternatives including surgery, a shot of hyaluronic acid and physical therapy. I selected the PT which I still do on my own.
My knee pain resolved but recurred with less intensity when I started training for a marathon. My husband brought home some CBD cream, a non-hallucinogenic form of cannabis ointment.
I did not believe it would do a thing, but it definitely does. I’ve gained back some speed and now consistently run, hike and bike pain-free.
What Is CBD Cream?
A. Cannabidiol (CBD) is, as you suggest, derived from cannabis. This is a compound that does not have psychoactive properties. It has been used to control seizures. The FDA recently approved a highly purified form as the brand-name epilepsy medicine Epidiolex.
Does CBD Cream Relieve Pain?
Researchers have been examining the use of this compound for pain. They have reported some promising results in dogs with arthritis (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, July 23, 2018). Scientists studying rats found that CBD cream offered pain relief without changing the animals’ interest in exploring their environments (European Journal of Pain, July 2016).
We have heard from other readers that CBD cream or oil can be helpful in managing pain, but there are few well-controlled clinical trials to support this approach. We’re glad you have gotten such benefit and look forward to more research.
