The number of American adults that report enduring chronic pain has grown significantly in the last few years. The official definition of ‘chronic pain’ is pain that lasts a minimum of 12 weeks. People with this issue may feel a dull or sharp pain that results in an aching or burning sensation in affected areas.

Data from the National Center for Health Statistics is eye-opening. In 2019, it was found that over 20% of American adults had chronic pain. The incidence was highest amongst individuals aged 65+.

For many years, opioids were the ‘go-to’ option for people seeking painkillers. However, these drugs have a high rate of addiction. Also, opioid overdoses kill over 40,000 Americans each year.

Information from a Brightfield study had some fascinating findings about CBD oil for pain relief. It discovered that almost 80% of people considered using CBD for arthritis pain. The same study found that pain was the third most common reason for using cannabidiol, behind anxiety and insomnia. It is no surprise that there is a clamor to find the best CBD oils for pain online.

Despite the cannabinoid’s popularity, there is a lot of misinformation about using CBD oil for pain. Below, we briefly check out some of the myths and facts about using the cannabinoid to help manage chronic pain.

Myth – CBD Should Work Immediately or Else It is Fake

Unfortunately, a lot of people have fallen for various CBD marketing scams. Remember, brands are not allowed to make any medical claims. We have read far too many reviews where the author uses CBD for a few days and concludes that it doesn’t work. This isn’t surprising since many people use opioids due to how quickly they mask the pain.

Fact – CBD Takes Time to Take Effect & It May Not Work for Everyone

The matter of whether CBD for pain relief is effective depends a lot on the individual. For some, it can take several weeks to feel a real change as the cannabidiol builds up in their system. For others, the effect is apparent relatively quickly.

It’s also worth noting that CBD won’t be the right option for everyone. If you don’t have severe pain, there’s a possibility that the cannabinoid will lack the desired effect. Think about it, how effective do you think a painkiller is if you aren’t in much pain to begin with? It is usually patient people with serious pain that derive the best benefits from CBD.

Myth – There Isn’t Much Research on Using CBD Oil for Pain Relief

The fact that CBD oil isn’t federally approved leads many people to assume that it’s because research is lacking. In reality, the FDA has approved a prescription drug called Epidiolex, which contains CBD. The drug is for rare forms of epilepsy.

Fact – There Are Thousands of Studies That Analyze CBD’s Effects

Estimates vary, but there are at least 20,000 PubMed citations relating to the human endocannabinoid system (ECS), cannabinoid receptors, and other CBD-related content. Many of the studies involve animals, but they are worth noting because all mammals have an ECS.

A 2016 study looked at how transdermal CBD could help rats with arthritis. The researchers applied CBD gels with different concentrations of cannabidiol to the rats. The application of the CBD resulted in reduced joint swelling and limb posture scores as a spontaneous pain rating.

Many other studies show that CBD has potential anti-inflammatory properties. Anecdotal evidence also shows that MMJ patients with conditions like arthritis derive significant benefit from CBD creams applied directly to the site of pain.

Myth – You Only Need A Little CBD

There is no question that using large amounts of CBD oil for pain could prove expensive. It isn’t unusual for someone to spend $200+ per month on it. However, the cost of prescription drugs is often higher.

Even so, many people use a relatively small amount of CBD per day, or else they only use it periodically.

Fact – You Get the Best Results from Regular & Frequent Usage

CBD is non-intoxicating and well-tolerated in doses of up to 1,500mg a day. Ideally, if you use CBD oil for pain relief, you would use 200+mg. Many of the studies conducted to date show that large concentrations of CBD are the most effective. However, it is usually too costly to consume 200mg a day. If possible, try to consume at least 50mg a day but begin with a very small amount to ensure there are no adverse effects.

Final Thoughts on Using CBD Oil for Pain

What’s abundantly clear is that we live in an age of extremes with little regard shown for the ‘middle ground.’ This attitude is evident when it comes to the CBD market. For some people, it is a miracle cure. For others, it is nothing but a scam.

The reality is that CBD oil for pain relief is potentially a useful alternative to painkillers. However, further research is necessary before we can conclusively say it is an effective analgesic.