Joint pain can make day-to-day activities uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes even impossible. Discover how CBD may relieve joint pain and help you regain control of your life.
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Sometimes joint pain is a mild nuisance. Maybe you notice stiffness or slightly less range of motion than normal. It may be annoying, but it doesn’t always impact your day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for everyone.
Severe joint pain may include swelling, tenderness, intense aching pain, and a drastically reduced range of motion. Regardless of whether your joint pain is mild or severe though, you shouldn’t have to live that way. That’s why many are now turning to Full-Spectrum CBD.
The physical and mental toll of joint pain can be exhausting, but CBD is providing many with relief in several different ways. If you or someone you know is struggling, read on to learn how CBD may help relieve joint pain.
Disclaimer: We want to take a moment and remind everyone that while CBD is considered a safe and mild supplement, you should always talk with your doctor before adding CBD into your regimen. While side-effects are rare and usually mild, it’s better to err on the side of caution. This goes double for those taking any prescriptions, as CBD can interact with some medications.
What Causes Joint Pain?
Honestly, joint pain can happen to anyone and, depending on what causes it, joint pain can affect almost any joint. That’s right. You may only notice joint pain in one area, but it’s possible for you to have joint pain in your shoulders, elbows, fingers, hips, knees, etc. But what exactly causes it and why do some people have it worse than others?
Sometimes just being extremely dehydrated can be enough to cause your joints to ache. For seniors, experiencing progressively less mobility is often considered normal. There are, however, a few health conditions that often lead specifically to joint pain. Here are just a few of them:
- Injury (strains, sprains, dislocated bones, etc.)
- Hypothyroidism
- Gout
- Lupus
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain types of cancer
- Certain infectious diseases
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it does a good job of illustrating just how varied the different causes of joint pain can be.
Common Solutions for Joint Pain
For joint pain caused by a recent injury or illness, over-the-counter pain-relievers are often recommended. That could include a number of different Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like Advil or Aleve. When taken in high doses, however, these drugs can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Those with allergies to aspirin should avoid these options completely.
There are also a wide variety of pain-relieving creams that work for some. They usually include anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and irritation, but some also include additional ingredients to warm or cool the skin as well. Unfortunately, their effects tend to be short-term, and they’re really only designed to treat joints closer to the surface of the skin. That makes it much harder to relieve joint pain in the hips or shoulders.
A few moderate lifestyle adjustments may also provide the relief you need. That might mean staying active, stretching before exercise, massages, warm baths, or even just ensuring you’re getting adequate rest. For severe joint pain, however, these options aren’t always enough. Your doctor may have additional prescription medications you can try, but these aren’t for everyone.
Luckily, there’s another way…
The Endocannabinoid System, Inflammation, and Pain Perception
Before we jump into how Full-Spectrum CBD may help, we need to cover a few biology basics. Mainly, your endocannabinoid system (ECS) which helps various bodily functions maintain homeostasis (balance).
The ECS uses its own naturally-produced cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids) to promote balance by binding them to receptors throughout the human body. That might mean more balanced stress responses, pain responses, or even a more balanced immune system. The last two items are of particular importance when it comes to joint pain.
One of the biggest contributors to joint pain is inflammation, and almost all of the health conditions we listed above can cause increased inflammation. Normally, inflammation is a natural response that helps protect us from injury or illness. Too much inflammation, however, can lead to a host of issues including joint pain.
The immune system controls inflammation, and the ECS has a surprisingly huge impact on the immune system. When an imbalance is detected, like an excessive inflammatory response, endocannabinoids bind with ECS receptors to create a chemical response that promotes balance. You’re not even aware of it, but your body is constantly at work trying to keep you happy and healthy. So, what role does CBD have in this?
For a wide variety of reasons, your body may or may not be producing enough endocannabinoids. It could also be that your ECS is trying to balance too many things at once. That’s why taking a full-spectrum CBD supplement can be so helpful. Since CBD is so similar to our endocannabinoids, it’s like giving your ECS additional hands to help out.
In one experiment studying acute lung injury in rats, it showed that CBD does have anti-inflammatory properties. This is most likely due to its ability to promote adenosine (one of those naturally occurring endocannabinoids). On top of that, CBD may balance neurotransmitters that influence pain perception
Frontiers in Pharmacology published a review explaining how CBD may actually reduce the messages in your brain that communicate pain signals. For non-inflammatory joint pain (like osteoarthritis), this is fantastic news. But for everyone, it means CBD may make everyday activities more manageable.
Why Full-Spectrum CBD Helps Relieve Joint Pain
When it comes to CBD, you may run into products labeled Isolates, Broad-Spectrum, or Full-Spectrum. We’ll let you in on a little secret though–when it comes to pain, anxiety, and/or sleep problems, you definitely want Full-Spectrum CBD.
CBD isolates only have CBD. Broad-Spectrum products have everything except for the negligible amount of THC found in full-spectrum products. These options are useful for anyone with THC sensitivities, specific allergies, or anyone worried about drug tests (rare but not impossible).
Full-Spectrum products, on the other hand, have it all. They include CBD, the various other cannabinoids and botanical compounds, a tiny amount of THC, and any terpenes present in the plant. But what’s the big deal? If the small amount of THC isn’t enough to cause any psychoactive effects, then why do you need it in there at all? It’s because of the Entourage Effect.
Each of these different compounds has its own unique benefits, but when taken together their effects can be amplified. The THC is particularly important because it helps people overcome what’s called a “bell-shaped dose-response.” This response just means that if you take CBD as an isolate, the effects stay consistent even with increased dosages. That doesn’t mean CBD isolates won’t provide you with relief. However, if you needed to increase your dose for any reason, it wouldn’t necessarily increase the effects.
How to Relieve Joint Pain with Full-Spectrum CBD
Before beginning, you’ll want to make sure you’re using high-quality CBD products that make it easy for you to access a Certificate of Analysis. If you’re trying to improve your health, then there’s no point in using products that may contain unwanted chemicals. Plus, that’s the best way to ensure the CBD levels are accurate.
The best way to relieve severe joint pain, is to have a CBD regimen. We recommend starting the day by taking a dose of Full-Spectrum CBD Oil sublingually (held beneath the tongue for 30+ seconds before swallowing). This ensures the maximum amount of CBD is absorbed, and the effects will kick in faster than if you had simply swallowed.
Many with severe pain end up needing a higher strength product, but take your time and figure out what CBD strength is right for you. Over time, you’ll experience less pain and inflammation overall. The key here, however, is patience. You won’t notice relief overnight, so make sure you’re being consistent. If you need relief right then and there, you should consider adding a CBD Gel.
Applying a CBD topical to any painful joints can provide relief exactly where you need it. It can take a CBD Gel twenty to thirty minutes to start relieving pain, so be patient. For severe joint pain, combining CBD gel and CBD oil may give you the extra relief you need.
If you have a busy day planned, sometimes it’s a good idea to carry a few CBD Gummies with you. These are more convenient to use throughout the day, and make it easy to get the relief you need when you get hit with unexpected joint pain.
As an added bonus, if your joint pain makes sleeping difficult then you should consider using some form of CBD before bedtime. This will make you more comfortable and able to get the restorative sleep you need.
Relieve Joint Pain Today With Full-Spectrum CBD
For mild joint pain, you can utilize any of the above methods as well. Just choose whichever method that makes the most sense for your lifestyle. As always, remember to consult with your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially if you’re on any medications.
Contact us today with questions and don’t forget to stock up on your favorite CBD products. If you suffer from joint pain, we urge you to consider trying a CBD supplement. You deserve to live pain-free so you can feel better and live more.