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7 min read
Emily Ledger
The cannabis plant has been used as a therapeutic aid for thousands of years. Despite an almost global ban on the plant throughout the 20th century, more and more countries are once again acknowledging the medicinal potential of this versatile plant. Cannabis-based medicines can now be prescribed in the UK for a wide range of conditions, including arthritis.
In this article, we’re taking a closer look at this common condition, its causes and treatments, and how medical cannabis could be beneficial for patients with arthritis.
Rather than being a single condition or disease, arthritis refers to more than 100 conditions, including joint disease and conditions that cause joint pain. Arthritis can affect people of all ages, though some forms are more common in older individuals and among women. Some kinds of arthritis are progressive, meaning symptoms worsen over time—the two most common forms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. It is estimated to affect around 10 million people in the UK alone.
OA can affect almost any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the hands, spine, knees, and hips. This condition causes bones in the affected joints to weaken over time and the connective tissues around the joint to deteriorate, and while the exact cause of OA is unknown, factors such as injury, genetics, and other forms of arthritis may increase the risk of it developing.
Common signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include swelling and tenderness in the joints, a grating or crackling sound when moving the joint, pain and stiffness, limited range of movement, and weakness and muscle wasting. The severity of these symptoms can vary significantly, and symptoms may come and go.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common arthritic condition.
It is a type of autoimmune inflammatory arthritis in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the joints. This causes the thin layer of cells covering the joints to become inflamed, releasing chemicals that damage bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments around the joint. It is less common than osteoarthritis, affecting an estimated 1% of the UK population.
Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, stiffness, and swelling around the joints. Some patients may also experience more general symptoms such as a lack of energy, high temperature, sweating, poor appetite, and weight loss. Rheumatoid arthritis can also be associated with problems in other areas of the body, including dry eyes and chest pain.
There is no cure for any kind of arthritis and treatments focus on reducing the severity and impact of symptoms. Treatments for arthritis can vary depending on the type of arthritis; however, this will usually include a combination of medications and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery may be performed to repair, strengthen, or replace the damaged joint.
Some medications for arthritis can be purchased over-the-counter, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), a painkiller (analgesic) often used to manage mild to moderate arthritis pain. However, stronger medications require a prescription. These include:
While these medications are often effective at managing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, some may have undesirable side effects. For example, opioids have a high risk of dependence, while NSAIDs can cause headaches and dizziness, high blood pressure, and in rare cases, problems with the liver, kidneys, and heart.
Living with arthritis can present a number of challenges for patients. Decreased mobility and ability to perform everyday tasks can affect patients’ personal and professional lives, as well as relationships with friends and family. Several charities and organisations, such as Arthritis Action and Versus Arthritis, aim to provide advice and support to patients with arthritis to help them manage the physical and mental impacts of living with arthritis.
Medical cannabis has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of a wide range of conditions. Reports from ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Indian, and Assyrian sources indicate that cannabis was used to relieve pain and inflammation, among many other ailments. However, the demonisation of the plant, beginning in the early 20th century, eventually led to the almost global prohibition of the plant.
In recent years, growing scientific and clinical evidence has added to our understanding of this complex plant and its therapeutic potential. As a result, a growing number of patients are once again looking to cannabis as a treatment option for arthritis.
The cannabis plant contains hundreds of active compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. The most common cannabinoids, CBD and THC, have long been the main focus of cannabis research due to their abundance and impressive therapeutic potential.
They interact with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, which are expressed throughout the central nervous system and immune system, triggering a wide range of responses. The endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in many processes, including mood and pain modulation.
The use of cannabis among patients with arthritis is thought to have been on the rise in recent years. A 2021 study of US adults with rheumatic diseases found that cannabis use among 11,006 participants increased significantly from 6.3% in 2014 to 18.4% in 2019. Of those who reported cannabis use, 74% and 62%, respectively, reported that cannabis was effective in the relief of arthritis symptoms.
While medical cannabis cannot cure arthritic conditions, a growing body of evidence indicates that it may be useful in relieving pain symptoms. Moreover, some findings indicate that cannabis-based medicines are associated with improved quality of life as well as improvements in common comorbidities of arthritis such as sleep disturbance.
Several clinical studies and systematic reviews have aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain conditions, including arthritis. Cannabis-based medicines are consistently found to be safe and associated with few side effects, particularly when compared to conventional therapies such as opioids.
Since the UK legalised medical cannabis in 2018, specialist doctors have been able to prescribe cannabis-based medicines for a range of conditions and symptoms, including arthritis.
In fact, arthritis is the sixth-most common condition reported by Releaf patients. Under current guidelines, patients who are interested in medical cannabis for arthritis are required to have previously tried and not responded to conventional arthritis treatments.
The vast majority of patients seeking medical cannabis therapy gain a prescription through private clinics like Releaf, due to extremely low NHS medical cannabis prescription numbers. To learn more about the process of accessing medical cannabis for arthritis, find out how Releaf works.
It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
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Am I eligible?Emily, an accomplished content writer with a specialisation in cannabis and alternative health, leverages her five years in the sector to enhance education and diminish stigma around medicinal cannabis use.
Our articles are written by experts and reviewed by medical professionals or compliance specialists. Adhering to stringent sourcing guidelines, we reference peer-reviewed studies and scholarly research. View our editorial policy.
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Much like all other treatment options in the UK, medical cannabis does come with costs. But, here at Releaf we do our best to balance bespoke, specialised care with affordable and accessible treatment plans, and our ever-growing patient numbers and reams of positive reviews on Trust Pilot, show we’re keeping the scales in check.
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Emily Ledger
Even though medical cannabis has been a full legal treatment option here in the UK since 1 November 2018, there is still a level of stigma surrounding it. It is anything but a surprise that some patients are worried about how their decision to pursue a medical cannabis prescription may affect their relationship with their general practitioner (GP).
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