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Knee Osteoarthritis in the UK
- Over 4.7 million people in the UK have diagnosed knee osteoarthritis
- NSAIDs and paracetamol often provide incomplete long-term relief
- Opioid prescribing for knee OA carries significant dependency and side effect risks
- Medical cannabis is an emerging specialist option for refractory cases
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent conditions seen in UK medical cannabis clinics.
Cannabinoid Mechanisms in Joint Pain
- CB2 receptors are expressed in joint tissue and immune cells
- CBD reduces inflammatory markers in preclinical joint models
- THC modulates pain signals at spinal cord and brain levels
- Anti-inflammatory terpenes including beta-caryophyllene provide additional benefit
The combination of peripheral anti-inflammatory effects and central pain modulation makes cannabinoids pharmacologically relevant for knee OA.
What Patients Report
- Reduced resting pain and improved sleep are most commonly reported
- Some patients reduce or eliminate NSAID use, lowering GI side effect burden
- Improvement in morning stiffness duration reported in observational studies
- Benefits typically emerge within 2-4 weeks of consistent dosing
Real-world evidence from UK patient registries shows meaningful improvements in pain and quality of life for knee OA patients using medical cannabis.
