Arthritis medical cannabis treatment
Arthritis is a common condition that inflames the lining of joints or tendons, causing extreme pain and restricting mobility. While there is currently no cure for arthritis, physiotherapy, painkillers, and NSAIDs are usually prescribed to help manage symptoms. Recently, however, arthritis medical cannabis treatments have emerged as a popular option amongst patients in the UK, due to their efficacy in relieving pain and inflammation.
Am I eligible?10 million
people in the UK have arthritis, around 8 million of these have osteoarthritis.
1 in 5
medical cannabis patients in the UK are using cannabis to manage arthritis
66%
of US arthritis patients said their sleep improved after trying a CBD treatment
51%
of RA patients said arthritis cannabis-based treatments improved their pain
Symptoms
Inflammation of the joints
Joint pain
Joint stiffness
Joint tenderness
Muscle wasting
Restricted movement
Warm, red skin over joints
Weakness
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from arthritis. Please speak with your GP to find out more.
Alternative Medicines
In some cases, the progression of arthritis can be slowed using certain medicines like disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), but typically patients are prescribed analgesic painkillers and anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to help manage their symptoms, or offered physiotherapy, and sometimes even surgery.
Co-codamol
Diclofenac
Methotrexate
Naproxen
Prednisolone
Sulfasalazine
Use our eligibility tool to find out if arthritis medical cannabis treatments may be suitable for you.
Am I eligible?Join our growing community of over 60,000 people
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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A word from our specialist
"Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease, characterized by the breakdown of cartilage and the underlying bone. Medical cannabis has shown promise as a complementary treatment for symptom control in OA. Benefits include reducing chronic pain, reducing inflammation associated with cartilage damage, reducing muscle stiffness/ spasm and aiding disrupted sleep. Patients using medical cannabis often report improvements in overall quality of life.
Inflammatory arthritis, which includes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is caused by inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Other parts of the body may also be affected. Symptoms include chronic joint pain, stiffness and swelling. If left untreated, destruction/damage of the joints can occur, leading to reduced function and disability. Medical cannabis shows promise as a complementary treatment for inflammatory arthritis, particularly for managing pain, inflammation and sleep. Some research suggests that cannabinoids might have immune-modulating effects, thereby benefitting conditions where the immune system plays a key role."
Dr. Hanna Gul
Research and Quality Director
Use our eligibility tool to find out if arthritis medical cannabis treatments may be suitable for you.
Am I eligible?Articles on Arthritis
04. 08. 2023
What you should know about cannabis for arthritis
Patients battling arthritis often experience chronic pain, and when left untreated, the pain associated with the condition can prevent them from carrying out daily activities, and living a normal, healthy, fulfilling life.
04. 08. 2023
16. 09. 2023
The best terpenes for arthritis pain
The two most often encountered forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Both of these conditions involve the breakdown of joint tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Certain terpenes are showing great promise in offering arthritis patients a range of therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic (slowing the breakdown of muscle tissue), analgesic, and anti-spasmodic properties.
16. 09. 2023
04. 09. 2023
Finding the optimal CBD dose for rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints, causing severe pain, swelling, and mobility issues. Although it can manifest in any articulated joint, it most commonly impacts knees, hands, feet, and wrists.
04. 09. 2023
How does medical cannabis affect arthritis?
When ingested, the chemical compounds in cannabis interact with receptors in our bodies to modify or alter the signals and messages being sent, in an attempt to restore homeostasis.
When used to manage the symptoms of arthritis, cannabis’ psychoactive component, THC, can bind to receptors in the brain and alleviate the perception of pain, whilst its counterpart chemical, CBD, is able to regulate inflammatory responses to reduce swelling, and may slow the progressive cartilage breakdown associated with the condition.
Although research in this field is still ongoing and is still in the infancy stages, medical cannabis arthritis treatments have received very positive feedback from patients with notable benefits including improved sleep, reduction in pain and inflammation, and an improved quality of life.
Our specialist doctors can legally prescribe cannabis-based treatments to UK-based patients who have been struggling to manage their arthritis symptoms with conventional medicines, and are here to support patients through their journey with medical cannabis. To find out if this course of treatment could be suitable for you, fill out our free online eligibility checker today.