How Long Does It Take CBD Oil To Work for Joint Pain?

Dealing with joint pain can really damper your overall quality of life. 

Not being able to move around as easily as you once did and waking up with pain that you wish could go away completely, or at least be subsided is no way to live.

CBD has recently started to become a more sought after option for those suffering from joint pain. Depending on which form you decide to use your CBD, effects can be felt 15 to 45 minutes after application or consumption.

Due to the organic nature of CBD and how quickly the pain relieving results take place, more and more users are beginning to try cannabidiol and continuously see amazing results.

What Is The Recommended CBD Dose for Arthritis?

There is nothing in black and white when it comes to how much CBD oil you should be consuming but according to the medical experts that were consulted by the Arthritis Foundation [1] they recommended that adults consider the following when taking CBD Oil:

Start with a lower dosage and begin to gradually increase the dosage over the next several weeks until you start to notice joint and pain relief taking place. Take note of that dosage and continue that to maintain relief.

Since CBD extract is mixed with a carrier oil you should take notice of the actual amount of the liquid product to take and then the amount of CBD within that dose.

If you aren’t seeing any results from just the cannabidiol alone, consulting with your doctor about trying a low dose of THC along with your CBD oil could help. Make sure your state has legalized the use of recreational and medical marijuana [2]. 

When beginning doses of CBD with THC, it is best to first take them at home to see how you react to them and what potential side-effects you may have.

If you do happen to experience any negative side-effects, you should immediately stop your dosage and let your doctor know.

Making sure to follow the above guidelines will ensure that you get the pain treatment that is most effective for you. For an adult, typically it takes 20 to 35 milligrams.

CBD Arthritis Study

Arthritis is currently the leading cause of disability in the United States and currently affects over 50 million Americans [3]. In an effort to try and learn more about how to battle this condition, there have been four big studies held over the past seven years on CBD and the effects it has on joint pain.

A study conducted in 2011 showed that CBD helped to reduce pain in rats caused by inflammatory joints due to the oil directly affecting the pain stimuli in the brain.

A 2014 study showed that CBD may also help with OA (Osteoarthritis).

A 2016 study showed that that topical application of CBD could help relieve inflammation that is directly due to arthritis.

Another study in 2017 also confirmed that CBD could be used for inflammatory joint relief due to OA.

While animal studies have shown that CBD can be an effective method for reducing joint pain, no studies have been concluded on humans that shows that CBD is for sure, something that can help with joint pain in humans, although there have been dozens of CBD users who have reported a decrease in pain since they’ve started taking cannabidiol.

What Joints Do CBD Specifically Help With Pain?

Knees

The most common type of arthritis in the knee is Osteoarthritis, also known as the wear and tear arthritis due to the natural cushioning between your joint being worn away and when this happens the bones of the joint start to closely rub together with none of the shock-absorbing benefits offered by cartilage.

Due to CBD oil and the effect it has on pain stimuli in the brain, while your knee pain may still be present, you’ll more than likely feel it a lot less, making the pain much more manageable.

Back

For any of you that have had back pain for any extended period of time, you know it’s nothing to mess around with. Your back is what gives you stability and the core for bodily activity. Due to the muscle and bone degeneration in the spine, it can cause you to develop arthritis in your back.

Cannabis is able to effectively relax muscles in your back which reduces strain that can be caused by doing simple movements like bending over or twisting.

Hands

Our hands are something we are constantly moving on a daily basis and because of that, it can also lead to joint deterioration and the development of osteoarthritis. One of the best ways to fight osteoarthritis in your hands is by using an anti-inflammatory drug to reduce inflammation in the joints.

A great option for hip pain could be using a highly effective CBD cream that can deeply penetrate your muscles and hit those problem areas.

Jaw

This isn’t the most common place to experience joint pain and arthritis but it can definitely happen. Macro or microtrauma can happen from clenching or grinding over an extended period of time.

Trying CBD soft gel tablets can start to show positive results for people with arthritis and it’s possible to start seeing results in as little as 15 minutes after consumption.

Hips

The hips are a more common place for arthritis although the cause is not known. Some factors that can contribute to hip pain is old age and being overweight other contributing factors can be inflammatory disorders.

Using topical cream or CBD oil tincture can help you begin to help ease the pain in your hips and make it much more manageable.

What Forms Can CBD Come In?

Tinctures

One of the most popular forms of CBD oil are tinctures, mainly because of how quickly they start going to work for pain relief. This method of CBD is not only cost-effective for manufacturers but for customers as well.

The most effective way to get the CBD in your bloodstream quicker is to start with a lower dosage and then hold the CBD oil drops under your tongue from 30-90 seconds. It can take around 20 minutes to start to feel the effects.

Edibles and Capsules

Using edibles and capsules can give longer lasting effects but can take longer for you to feel it working. This is because your body has to digest and absorb the edible or capsule before you start to feel the effects. CBD users who choose to ingest this way can start to feel the effects around 60 minutes or so. Taking the capsules on an empty stomach can help to speed up the process.

Topical Cream

CBD has a number of different antioxidant properties that not only helps with pain but can also help with other skin damages that can lead to hyperpigmentation and aging. Topical CBD works through binding CB2 receptors near the skin which activates the endocannabinoid system. It may take up to an hour for topical cream to work but once applied, can offer consistent pain relief for hours. While CBD cream is great for joint pain, it won’t help with mental symptoms.

Inhalation

This is by far the fastest way to start feeling the effects of CBD because it is entered into your lungs and then directly into your bloodstream and can completely circulate throughout your body within a few minutes and can last for hours. Introducing something new to your lungs may have side-effects, so just make sure to do some investigating before trying something like vaping or smoking.

Is CBD Oil An Anti-Inflammatory?

Inflammation does not only affect those with arthritis, environmental elements, pollution and stress can all contribute to inflammation without you even knowing it. An increase in inflammation can be detrimental to your body and lead to a number of different health conditions such as:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Asthma
• Depression
• Cancer

While scientists are still discovering new ways that cannabidiol can help with treating inflammation, during this time there have been multiple studies that have been reported of how CBD can help with reducing inflammation by impacting endocannabinoid receptor activity which is responsible for a variety of functions such as, sleep, immune system response and hunger. A study that included 47 people that were suffering from multiple sclerosis who took Sativex for one month and the effects of the study group was an increase in movement and a decrease in pain but the study did not have a control group so other factors cannot be completely ruled out [4].

What Type of CBD Oil Should You Take for Pain Management?

Different types of CBD products usually all have a commonality when it comes to the science behind how they relieve pain but what type of CBD you decide to use for your pain management will be based on your preferred method of application or consumption, so if you’d rather have a cream that can seep through your skin and deeply penetrate your muscles, using a topical cream may be best for you. If you don’t mind swallowing pills, capsules are also another great option. If you have a history of smoking or vaping and can handle this type of consumption there are plenty of options available for you.

What Are The Potential Side Effects?

As numerous as the benefits of CBD are, there are also some side-effects that you can experience, they include:

• Fatigue
• Appetite changes
• Diarrhea
• Low blood pressure
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth

You should always make sure to do your research before choosing a CBD product for pain. Although CBD products are not approved by the FDA, there are some necessary precautions that you should take before you make your final decision. Look for companies that provide third-party lab tests, and domestically sourced products to ensure quality.

Final Thoughts

There are many different forms of CBD that you can take and which ones you choose all depends on your personal preference and while some may work faster than others, whether you decide to choose a capsule or a topical cream they generally all have one common goal and that is to relieve you from aches and pains that you’re suffering from.