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A new study says cannabidiol (CBD) can effectively relieve postoperative pain in rotator cuff surgery while being at least as safe as opioids. The study was presented last weekend at the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine’s annual meeting in Colorado Springs. The findings have not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal.

The team created a multicenter study involving 80 subjects between the ages of 18 and 75. One group received a placebo. The other received CBD for 14 days. In the CBD group, the dose was either 25 mg or 50 mg, depending on the subject’s weight.

Participants’ pain levels were recorded on days 1, 7, and 14. The researchers used a visual analog scale for pain, opioid consumption, and satisfaction with pain control. Liver function was measured on days seven and 14 to assess safety and nausea was monitored.

The researchers reported that on the first day, VAS pain scores were significantly lower in those receiving CBD. Additionally, although not significant, patient satisfaction with pain control tended to favor the CBD group. However, the researchers also found that there were no statistically significant differences in opioid consumption between the two groups.

People who received 50 mg of CBD reported lower VAS scores on the first day and higher satisfaction with pain control on the first and second days compared to those who received 25 mg of CBD and the control group.

• Researchers say cannabidiol (CBD) can be effective for pain managementafter rotator cuff surgery

• They add that CBD usually doesn’t produce serious side effects or a high risk of addiction

• Experts say CBD can be an effective postoperative pain treatment for a number of surgeries

Later in the study, however, CBD’s effects on the study measures were seen to wane. On days seven and fourteen, the researchers reported that there were no statistically significant differences in VAS scores, opioid consumption, or patient satisfaction with pain control. There were also no significant differences in nausea or liver function.

Based on our findings, CBD is safe and effective in reducing pain in the immediate perioperative period after rotator cuff repair and should be considered for postoperative multimodal pain control.

Reactions of Experts

Dr. Dustin Sulak is an osteopathic medicine specialist and founder of Integr8 Health, a medical practice that follows more than 8,000 patients using medical cannabis. Sulak told Healthline that CBD differs from opioids because it doesn’t target opioid receptors, and while it may not have as “impressive” an effect on pain, it also lacks risks.

CBD’s effectiveness in reducing pain is more similar to anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, but CBD also lacks many of these side effects, such as stomach irritation and increased bleeding.

Unlike most pain relievers, which have one specific target in the body, CBD has multiple mechanisms of action, including mild direct effects on reducing pain, reducing inflammation that contributes to pain, and reducing anxiety that can exacerbate pain.

CBD is very well tolerated and I would expect very few side effects at the 25-50 mg doses used in this study. Those who have a negative reaction to CBD often describe a loss of appetite, mild nausea, diarrhea, or restlessness.

While it is useful to study these two cannabinoids independently, I suspect that research will ultimately show that a combination of THC and CBD works best for reducing pain, sparing opioids, and speeding up healing.

Cannabis, specifically cannabidiol, has been noted to be anti-inflammatory, and analgesic, and provide relief without the potential for intoxication or euphoria that can be associated with medical cannabis or strains with higher THC levels.

Studies show that cannabidiol is an anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antiemetic, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic agent and can help mediate our endocannabinoid system (the main communication system in our body) to reduce pain signaling and relieve pain. symptoms associated with pain.

Hemp refers to products obtained from the hemp plant. Not all cannabis products contain THC.

Guynes cautioned that cannabis can still have side effects. CBD and hemp products can potentiate or increase the effects of opioids. With combination therapy, patients should be educated on how to identify and manage these symptoms and should communicate with their healthcare provider to help them adjust any medications as needed. There are also some drug interactions to consider, such as warfarin or blood thinners.

The opioid-sparing effect is important because 10 million people abused opioids in 2018 and 40,000 people died of opioid overdoses, Whitelocke told Healthline. Add that to the idea that total knee and hip replacements are expected to triple between 2010 and 2030. Having no choice is truly a public health issue with dire consequences.

Only one CBD product has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, although researchers continue to study potential health benefits for a number of other medical conditions.