In a new study published in the Journal of Southeast Asian Orthopaedics, marijuana oil significantly reduced knee pain and improved quality of life in subjects suffering from treatment-resistant osteoarthritis.
Conducted by researchers from Srisangworn Hospital in Thailand, the study evaluated the “effectiveness of cannabis oil in treating severe knee osteoarthritis in patients awaiting total knee arthroplasty”.
For the study, 32 patients with severe knee osteoarthritis, unresponsive to conservative treatment, were enrolled and divided into two equal groups. The control and experimental groups received syrup and cannabis oil, respectively, at night for 30 days. Pain and quality of life (QOL) were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), respectively. Liver and kidney functions were also assessed.
“The experimental group showed a significant reduction in NRS scores compared to the control group”, states the study. “Significant improvements were observed in KOOS subscales for pain, activities of daily living (ADL), and QOL.”
Researchers say liver and kidney function “remained stable in both groups.”
The study concludes by stating that “Cannabis oil was associated with significant improvements in pain, ADL, and QOL in severe knee osteoarthritis. Although improvements did not meet MCID (minimal clinically important difference) thresholds, observed benefits suggest potential for pain management. Larger controlled studies are recommended to confirm its clinical efficacy in pain management.”
