CBD for Chronic Knee Pain: What to Expect

Chronic knee pain is a debilitating condition that not only causes you discomfort, but also affects your daily life. Many treatments are available, but not all are effective in managing your pain. 

Sometimes, less conventional treatments may be just what you need. CBD is one of these treatments.

At Integrated Body and Medicine, we offer many different treatments to help you deal with chronic pain in your knees. We offer a personalized treatment plan and give you the information you need to understand each treatment. 

If you’re considering using CBD for pain relief, we can offer you information on what to expect.

Causes of chronic knee pain

Knee pain is a debilitating condition that can be the result of a variety of conditions. Sometimes a prior injury may lead to arthritis later on, or you could suffer from normal wear-and-tear that breaks down your joint. 

Arthritis is the main cause of chronic knee pain, but there are other conditions that can also lead to knee troubles, including:

• Traumatic injury
• Degenerative conditions
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Infection
• Tendinitis

If you’re overweight, the excess pounds put more strain on your knee joints, which can also lead to chronic pain. 

What are the symptoms of a chronic problem with your knee? Symptoms can vary, but may include:

• Stiffness
• Redness
• Decreased mobility
• Weakness
• Swelling

Your knee may also feel like it’s unstable. 

All of these symptoms warrant an evaluation and treatment, but how do you know what treatment is right for you? Have you been considering alternative therapies such as CBD for your pain? If so, there are some things you need to know before going down that road for relief.

How can CBD help?

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a compound that’s derived from a cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t give you the commonly sought-after high that THC does. But in some cases, CBD can cause drowsiness, so take care when choosing a treatment option.

CBD that’s on the market today can have many uses, ranging from reducing anxiety to easing chronic pain. So how does it work for knee pain? Cannabinoids have been shown to inhibit certain neurotransmitters in the brain that play a role in your body’s inflammatory response. 

By decreasing this inflammation, CBD could help relieve chronic pain. It can also help you cut down on the use of harmful opioids, which are habit-forming and have a vast array of side effects.

CBD comes in a variety of applications, including oral gummies, topical creams, or inhaled vapors. Which one you choose to use is completely up to you, but before deciding on CBD, contact us first to make sure it’s safe for you to use. 

What you can expect from treatment

Each person responds differently to CBD products. CBD is not a cure-all for any condition, so you shouldn’t expect your chronic knee pain to go away overnight. At most, you’ll experience moderate pain relief and less inflammation. But CBD shouldn’t be your only avenue of treatment.

If you decide to go this route, include us in your decision, so we can help pair your CBD therapy with other treatments that may help, including physical therapy or chiropractic care. 

There are some things to be mindful of when considering CBD therapy for knee pain. You should:

• Make sure the product is tested
• Involve our care team in your decision
• Give yourself a realistic time frame for relief
• Start with a low dose at nighttime

Never stop taking other medications for other conditions without consulting us. Although CBD can help your chronic knee pain, it doesn’t take the place of your prescribed medications. 

If you’ve had enough of chronic knee pain and are considering CBD therapy, schedule an appointment. Call our Highland, Indiana, office at 219-803-6630 or schedule an appointment through our online system.