Knee inflammation is a fairly common health condition affecting millions globally. Generally, knee inflammation occurs when a knee joint is filled with fluid – a condition doctors call effusion.
There are many different causes of knee inflammation. It could be due to trauma, overuse, injuries, or an underlying condition or disease. Only a medical test can determine the exact cause of a swollen knee.
An inflamed knee can be painful and affect mobility. However, not all knee inflammation is serious; some simply require home treatments. But certain medical conditions can cause chronic knee pain and joint damage if not attended to promptly. So it’s important to consult with a doctor.
Considering this is a health issue affecting nearly 25 percent of the adult population, you may want to learn more about it. This article discusses several ways to manage knee inflammation, including cannabidiol (CBD) supplements.
Key takeaways
- Knee inflammation is caused by a buildup of excess fluids in the knee joint.
- The reasons behind the buildup of excess fluids in the knee joint can be trauma, overuse, injury, or a medical condition.
- CBD has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and shows promising potential in managing inflammation.
Reducing knee inflammation
Treating knee inflammation is more effective if you adopt a multifaceted approach. Essentially, this means using a combination of physician-prescribed treatments and self-care practices to reduce pain and inflammation.
But first things first, how do you detect an inflamed knee? The symptoms and signs of knee inflammation vary, depending on what’s causing it and the affected area. Generally, the affected portion of the knee might swell and feel warmer and more tender than other parts.
You may also feel pain when you move the affected knee. Most cases of knee inflammation result from friction and irritation. This can happen if you frequently kneel on hard surfaces or have injured your knee in some way.
You may also experience inflammation if you play sports that involve frequent falling, e.g., volleyball, wrestling, and soccer.
The symptoms usually start mildly and worsen with time, which is why it’s important to see a doctor when you feel something’s off.
But there is good news! There are several ways to manage knee inflammation. If you spot the symptoms early, home treatments will probably help enough to reduce inflammation.
How do you reduce swelling in the knee
R.I.C.E therapy
Depending on the underlying condition, knee inflammation can be treated at home or in the hospital. Home treatment usually involves using R.I.C.E., i.e., rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This is how:
Rest: this means avoiding activities that involve bearing heavy weights. Remember, when you carry heavy weights, the weight is transferred to your joints. This can irritate the affected joint even more.
Ice: ice (or anything cold) is often applied to a swollen knee to reduce inflammation and pain. For best results, place ice on the inflamed knee for 15-20 minutes every 2-4 hours. It is advisable to raise your knee above your heart level (elevation) to facilitate good blood flow.
Compression: the whole idea behind compression is to minimize swelling. Wrapping a compression wrap on an inflamed knee prevents further swelling and provides stability by immobilizing it.
Physical therapy
Moving the joint can also help improve knee function by restoring strength and flexibility. Just be sure not to overwork the affected knee, as this might worsen swelling.
Natural supplements
Be it dietary or herbal supplements, a 2019 survey showed that almost 80 percent of U.S. adults take dietary supplements. These people link herbal remedies to natural healing and good health.
One that seems to have taken the natural supplement space by storm is CBD.
This cannabis compound, one of the 100+ cannabinoids that exist naturally in the plant, is believed to possess a wide range of health benefits. Even though CBD research is just a few decades old, the health benefits of cannabis have been apparent for millennia.
Existing findings of animal studies point to a compound with hugely admirable qualities. As a result, it has emerged as “a promising pharmaceutical agent to treat pain” and inflammation. A growing body of studies supports CBD’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, the result of which has seen a spike in the use of CBD products in sports and secondary healthcare.
So, how can CBD help with knee pain?
Is CBD good for knee pain?
There are indications that CBD could potentially help reduce knee pain. To understand how this happens, we have to talk about CBD’s effect on the endocannabinoid system or ECS.
The ECS is a network of cannabinoid receptors throughout the human body, and enzymes that work together to maintain the body’s health and internal balance. The most abundant cannabinoid receptors are CB1 receptors.
Even though the precise operation of the ECS is still a subject of research, existing evidence shows it is involved in various bodily processes, including pain control, learning and memory, sleep, temperature, immune and inflammatory responses, emotional processing, and eating.
The key to the proper functioning of the ECS is endocannabinoids. The body produces these molecules to help keep internal processes running smoothly. The two main endocannabinoids are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
When produced, these endocannabinoids bind to cannabinoid receptors signaling the ECS to take action. This results in wide-ranging physiological processes that are often beneficial. For example, an endocannabinoid can bind to CB1 receptors in the central nervous system to relieve pain.
Others might attach to CB2 receptors in immune cells, signaling an infection in the body. Once endocannabinoids complete their mission, they are broken down by enzymes to stop an overcorrection.
CBD may be good for knee pain due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Multiple pre-clinical and clinical studies demonstrate CBD’s positive influence on chronic pain in animals.
CBD’s ability to reduce pain is mostly noted when used with THC. It is also able to neutralize the adverse effects associated with THC. However, the findings of other studies contradict these, indicating no impact on THC’s effects.
There is also a view that CBD research is mainly undertaken on animals, so there’s no way to tell if similar effects can be replicated in human subjects. At this point, scientists also cannot tell the effects of long-term CBD use as may be the case for people with chronic pain.
However, we can find comfort in the fact that CBD has an excellent safety profile and good tolerance in healthy volunteers.
Best CBD for knee pain
Many CBD users swear by its effectiveness in treating chronic pain and other health conditions. A 2019 American Association of Advertising Agencies survey showed that 56 percent of the participants used CBD to manage pain, followed by stress (47%).
These findings are mirrored in other surveys, such as Singlecare’s, in which 68% of the participants found CBD effective.
The best CBD for knee pain depends on the severity of the condition. Knee pain may be accompanied by inflammation, so the best CBD for this is likely full- or broad-spectrum CBD. We vouch for these because they contain all cannabis’ beneficial compounds, including flavonoids and terpenes.
Indeed, users of full-spectrum CBD feel it has more impact than CBD isolates. CBD isolates are CBD extracts that contain CBD alone. The difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD is THC content. The former contains trace amounts of THC (<0.3%), while the latter ideally has zero THC content.
The higher effectiveness of full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD is attributed to the entourage effect. This is where the compounds in cannabis synergize to achieve an overall greater impact.
Can you rub CBD oil on your knees for pain?
Absolutely yes! CBD can penetrate the skin and reach CB receptors within it when applied topically. The effect is mostly localized since the CBD does not enter the bloodstream, where it can reach more receptors.
However, transdermal CBD may offer a more holistic impact because the CBD penetrates the skin deep enough to enter the bloodstream. This enables the CBD to reach receptors all over the body and have a greater impact.
What is the best CBD cream for knee pain?
We also advocate for broad-spectrum CBD cream for knee pain. Most people are opposed to CBD which contains THC, given its psychoactive properties. However, there is little need for concern because CBD derived from hemp typically contains less than 0.3 percent THC.
In any case, you are unlikely to get “high” from applying full-spectrum CBD cream to your knee. That’s because the concentration of THC is quite low, and not much of it enters the bloodstream when applied to the skin.
How to reduce knee inflammation naturally
One way to reduce knee inflammation naturally is by using CBD supplements. Our high-quality CBD products are formulated to help you feel and perform better.
For nagging aches and pains, try our Relief Cream brimming with 1000 mg or 2000 mg of premium hemp CBD and an assortment of soothing botanicals. This product is designed to help recover sore muscle tissue and quickly eliminate pain.
We understand how knee inflammation and pain can seriously affect your sleep. However, with our FOCL Night, you do not need to worry. These capsules contain premium hemp CBD and potent herbal extracts such as ashwagandha and valerian to relax the body and mind, relieve pain, and support deeper, longer sleep.
For those who want more, our Premium Full Spectrum CBD Drops may just be what you need. This CBD oil is made from whole hemp plant extracts for greater focus, restful sleep, and relaxation throughout the day.
