Pain can be an inevitable part of life, and chronic pain and soreness related to arthritis affect millions of people in the U.S. annually. According to the CDC, one in four adults with arthritis—about 15 million people—reports experiencing severe pain in their joints. Further, approximately 54 million people in the United States have arthritis. That’s a lot of people who could benefit from joint pain relief with CBD balm. [1] [2]
Did you know that arthritis and joint pain can be closely connected to anxiety and depression? Having arthritis or joint pain due to other issues can be exhausting and painful. Fatigue, inflammation, soreness, and mobility issues can affect your ability to be and stay active, which plays a huge role in dragging you down and causing depression.
These challenges with your health can reduce or block your ability to exercise. It may make you less social and more isolated as well. It can also make the quality of your sleep very poor.
As you can see, there’s a bit of a domino effect when it comes to joint pain or arthritis. Managing your symptoms is key to living your fullest, most enjoyable life. Fortunately, CBD may be able to help with the root of the issue as well as all of the other side effects that are brought on by it. (Click to tweet)
Before we get into cannabidiol’s potential to help alleviate your pain, let’s cover the reasons you may be experiencing joint pain.
Table of Contents:
1. What Causes Joint Pain? The Most Common Cause
1.1 Other Causes of Joint Pain
2. CBD Balm and Joint Pain
2.1 Benefits of Using CBD Balm
2.2 Proper Use of CBD Topicals
2.3 Are There Any Risks?
3. Tips for Buying CBD Balm for Joints
3.1 Research and Reviews
4. Experience Joint Pain Relief with CBD Balm
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1. What Causes Joint Pain? The Most Common Cause
You may notice pain or soreness in your wrists, hands, shoulders, hips, elbows, or knees. These are some of the most common places you might experience discomfort; of course, you have joints all over the body, so you could also find pain elsewhere.
While joint pain is pretty common and usually doesn’t require a hospital visit, sometimes it can be persistent and may put a damper on all areas of your life. This is especially true for older individuals or the elderly who have normal wear and tear on their joints.
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At times, joint pain can be related to an illness or injury to the area; however, many people experience joint pain related to arthritis. Other factors or conditions can also cause it.
Here’s the thing:
The most common cause of joint pain is arthritis. Two main forms of this condition are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. According to the American College of Rheumatology, osteoarthritis is most common for adults over the age of 40. It progresses slowly, affecting commonly used joints. Osteoarthritis pain results from a breakdown of cartilage in the joints, which serves as a cushion and shock absorber.
The second form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, affects 1.5 million Americans and is more common in women than men. It has the potential to deform and debilitate the joints over time. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, pain, and fluid buildup in the joints. This is because the body’s immune system attacks the membrane, which lines the joints.
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1.1 Other Conditions That Cause Joint Pain
- Bursitis—inflammation of the cushion around the joints
- Lupus
- Infectious diseases such as mumps, hepatitis, and influenza
- Gout
- Chondromalacia of the patella—breakdown of cartilage in the kneecap
- Fibromyalgia
- Sarcoidosis
- Osteoporosis
- Tendonitis—inflammation of the tendon
- Overuse of a certain joint
- Infection in the bone or joint
- Rickets
Regardless of what kind of joint pain you are experiencing, there’s no doubt that it is frustrating and tiring, and you’d probably like to find ways to manage your discomfort and pain better. Now, this is where CBD comes in.
People have been exploring the use of CBD for joint pain and other forms of physical pain. Some studies and research have suggested that the compound may have anti-inflammatory benefits in the body that could help with specific types of pain.
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One study from 2020 found that cannabidiol has anti-arthritic activity and could potentially help symptoms of arthritis pain by targeting cells that drive inflammation. [3]
Another study from 2017 indicated that cannabidiol showed promise in helping improve markers of inflammation, pain, and nerve damage in an animal model. One more study from 2015 revealed that CBD might reduce inflammation and pain in a rat model of arthritis. [4] [5]
But it gets more interesting...
A recent poll conducted by the Arthritis Foundation questioned 2,600 individuals who suffer from arthritis pain about their experiences using cannabidiol. According to the poll, a miraculous 94% of those who use CBD say they use it to alleviate their pain. Additionally, 67% of the poll participants reported improvements in their physical functioning due to taking the CBD. [6]
All of these studies over the past years point toward CBD having some major potential when it comes to those seeking relief for their joint pain and inflammation. This is especially helpful for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions as well as chronic pain from sports or overuse. (Click to tweet)
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2. CBD Balm and Joint Pain
If you’re searching for a cannabidiol product to help soothe aches and pains related to your joints, you have seemingly endless choices. From oils to capsules and everything in between, they all have the potential to aid in relieving pain. But CBD balms, creams, lotions, and topicals are especially helpful for joint and muscle pains. (Click to tweet)
Balms, lotions, creams, and other topicals can be applied directly to your painful areas, isolating the CBD to only that one spot. That, of course, can be very useful when it comes to your joints and muscles.
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2.1 Benefits of Using CBD Balm
The top benefit of using CBD-enriched topicals is that you can target your pain, as we mentioned above, and apply it directly to the site of inflammation. This will focus the cannabidiol on the physical pain you are experiencing. (Click to tweet)
Further benefits include the natural results of pain relief, such as relaxation, the ability to move more easily and smoothly, and better-quality sleep. Once your pain is reduced and your sleep improves, you’re able to get out, enjoy life more, and move freely without pain and inflammation holding you back.
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2.2 Proper Use of CBD Topicals
Massaging the cannabidiol-infused balm into a painful joint can take effect in just 15–45 minutes. (Click to tweet)
Proper use of CBD balms and creams depends on a variety of factors, including pain level. Here are a few general tips for use:
- Avoid using more than the recommended amount, and follow the instructions found on the label.
- Massage the area while applying the cream to promote blood flow and ease tension.
- Use hemp-based, organically sourced CBD products.
- Use consistently for several days or a week before you decide that it is working/not working. Sometimes it will take a little bit of time before you notice results.
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This is what’s cool:
You can find CBD balms of varying strengths. Topicals like balms can make dosage a bit challenging since they’re not as straightforward as a bag of CBD gummies, for example.
Dosage can depend on your experience with cannabidiol products, your body weight, the potency and strength of the product you choose, and the severity of the condition you are using it for.
It’s generally recommended that individuals who are new to CBD should start with the lowest possible dosage and work their way up over time if they feel it is necessary. (Click to tweet)
2.3 Are There Any Risks?
CBD topical products are unlikely to cause any major side effects or risks; however, it’s always better to check the ingredients first to make sure that you don’t have any known allergies to them.
Do not use topicals on broken skin, and it’s recommended to perform a patch test to make sure you don’t have any type of allergic reaction before using the product on larger areas of your skin. If you notice redness, swelling, or itching/burning, you may be allergic to something the balm contains, and you should discontinue use. Keep in mind that it’s unlikely to be the CBD, but it is a possibility.
3. Tips for Buying CBD Balm for Joints
When it comes to cannabidiol, not all products are created equal, and that is important to keep in mind while you are shopping. It’s very important to look into what you are purchasing before you hit the “Add to Cart” button. Here are a couple of tips:
- Transparency. The best CBD brands will be transparent with their consumers about where they grow their hemp and how they make their CBD products. Good companies also offer money-back guarantees. This sets them apart from the brands who just want to make money quickly, as opposed to making sure their customers are satisfied with their products.
- Testing. It’s always better to look for products that come with a comprehensive COA (Certificate of Authenticity) from a reputable third-party laboratory. COAs verify how much THC and CBD will be in the product you are buying and will tell you whether the product has been tested for any contaminants such as pesticides, molds, and heavy metals.
- Ingredients. Always check the ingredients list before you buy. Look for anything you know you are allergic to, and you can also find products that have added pain-relieving ingredients for maximum results.
- Reputation. Customer reviews are always a good thing to check out. You may also want to do some research on the brand itself, not just the product(s) you are thinking about purchasing. Some CBD brands have pending lawsuits or have received warnings from the FDA. Doing your research on a company is always a smart idea.
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3.1 Research and Reviews
There still needs to be more research done on CBD. However, growing evidence, research, studies, and consumer reports suggest that using CBD topicals, such as balms, creams, and lotions, may help with a variety of skin, muscle, and joint-related issues.
If you are planning on purchasing a CBD-infused balm to help with arthritis or joint pain, we recommend trying out our 250mg CBD Infused Herbal Balm. This maximum strength balm is unique and carefully crafted. It utilizes 12 powerful herbal extracts along with 250mg of organic hemp-derived CBD, which penetrates deeply & quickly into joints. Our reviews speak for themselves:
★★★★★ Excellent results with this balm! 11/02/2020
"I have severe chronic pain. and have used many different ointments, creams, balms. Definitely this balm is very effective in managing chronic arthritis pain."
— Sanjuana R. - NEW 250mg CBD Infused Herbal Balm
★★★★★ Works 04/17/2020
“My husband has been using the balm for a month on his knees and has such relief, in pain and inflammation. He is so impressed he is going to concentrate also on his hip which was replaced over a year ago and still painful. I've ordered for my knees now!”
— Kathy C. - CBD Infused Herbal Balm 1-Pack
Always remember to perform a patch test, and you can even talk to your doctor about using it first to see if it has any potential interactions with current medications you may be taking.
RELATED: The Potential Benefits of Using CBD Oil for Arthritis Pain
4. Experience Joint Pain Relief with CBD Balm
Once you get your new CBD balm, be sure to read over the instructions for use and follow them. If it’s entirely new to you, try the smallest dose to start with and work your way up to higher doses if you feel the smaller amount isn’t working for you.
Remember to massage the balm into the area that causes you pain; this will increase blood flow and relieve tension. It will also help the balm absorb into your skin.
This is important:
Keep in mind that you can also use CBD balm in conjunction with other cannabidiol products. Some people find combining a topical with a CBD tincture you take orally can maximize the pain-relieving benefits, and it can help you in many other ways, too. (Click to tweet) Easing stress and anxiety, helping you relax, or even providing you with a boost in energy when taken in smaller doses are but a few of those benefits.
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/pain/index.htm
- https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/arthritis.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7463000/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5690292/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
- http://blog.arthritis.org/news/patients-tell-us-cbd-use/
