CBD for Back Pain:
Can It Help? March 2024

Research has shown that CBD can relieve various types of pain, suggesting that it may also be beneficial for back pain. Still, studies looking specifically at the use of CBD in back pain sufferers are needed.

Gleb Oleinik Updated on March 22, 2023 Affiliate Disclosure Some links are specifically formatted for which we may receive a commission on resulting sales or clicks from affiliate partners (“Affiliate Links”).

Evidence Based
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Calvin Chan, Ph.D.

Calvin Chan, Ph.D.

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Strength of
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Multiple human studies have demonstrated CBD’s pain-relieving properties.
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Effect
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CBD may significantly reduce back pain.
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CBD may relieve back pain. However, most of the evidence comes from studies looking at other types of chronic pain, so targeted research in people with back pain is lacking.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is growing in popularity as a natural option for anxietyinflammation, and other common issues. Many people also take CBD for back pain.

There’s some evidence for CBD’s pain-relieving effects, which may help reduce various types of acute and chronic pain. More specifically, there’s a lot of potential when it comes to CBD for back pain.

Besides, CBD is a relatively safe, natural compound, which makes it an attractive alternative to prescription medications.

CBD can be taken in many forms, including CBD oil, capsules, and topical products that are applied directly to the painful part of the body. But does it work?

Here’s what medical research tells us about using CBD for back pain.

CBD for back pain drawing of the spine
23% of the world’s adults suffer from chronic low back pain.

Back Pain Overview

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see their doctor. Although it typically affects the lower back, it can also occur in the middle or upper parts of the back.

Back pain can be short-term or acute, but for many sufferers, it’s a chronic issue that significantly reduces their quality of life.

According to studies, an estimated 23% of the world’s adults suffer from chronic low back pain, and as many as 84% will experience it at some point in their lives. ¹

There are many causes of back pain, including muscle or ligament strain, a bulging or herniated disk in your spine, sciatica, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other conditions that don’t necessarily affect the back, including infections such as pneumonia and pleurisy.

Back Pain Subtypes

Based on what causes it, back pain can be roughly broken down into five primary categories: ²

  • Mechanical: This type of back pain is caused by damage to the spine or soft tissues. One common example is a herniated disk, a condition where the inner portion of the rubbery cushions (disks) between your spine’s vertebrae slip out.
  • Degenerative: Back pain caused by a disease that tends to progress and get worse over time, such as osteoarthritis.
  • Inflammatory: Back pain caused by some sort of inflammation, such as sacroiliitis (inflammation of the sacroiliac joint).
  • Oncologic: Back pain caused by cancer, including bone marrow cancer and cancer lesions in the spine.
  • Infectious: Back pain due to an infection or abscess in the spine or nearby muscles and other soft tissues.

 

Back Pain Symptoms & Pathology

Back pain is characterized by a painful sensation that can be described as a muscle ache or burning, shooting, or stabbing pain.

Back pain may also be worse during certain movements, such as bending, standing, walking, or lifting something. In some cases, back pain can also radiate down into your leg.

Can You Use CBD for Back Pain?

CBD may help relieve back pain in multiple ways.

First off, its analgesic (pain-relieving) properties can reduce back pain directly, regardless of the cause. ³ Additionally, CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects may help with cases of back pain caused by inflammation. ⁴

Research also suggests that lower back pain can cause psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression. ⁵ ⁶ CBD may help here as well, as it’s known for its anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) effect and may have antidepressant properties. ⁷ ⁸

A growing list of animal studies have shown that CBD can alleviate pain and provide related benefits when used internally or externally:

  • One 2017 study in rats with osteoarthritis found that CBD reduced neuropathic joint pain. ⁹
  • In a 2016 study, topically applied transdermal CBD gel reduced joint pain and inflammation in mice with rheumatoid arthritis with no evident side effects. ¹⁰
  • A 2014 study in rats found that CBD protected against damage caused by intervertebral disc degeneration, one of the most common causes of chronic low back pain. ¹¹

 

The Endocannabinoid System and Pain

One of the main ways that CBD can relieve back pain is by interacting with your endocannabinoid system (ECS).

This system regulates many processes, including inflammation, stress, mood, sleep, and pain, to maintain a balanced internal state called homeostasis. ¹² ¹³

The ECS is made up of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and special enzymes.

Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids naturally made in the body that stimulate the ECS by binding to specific cannabinoid receptors.

Most notably, CBD can inhibit the effects of FAAH, an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, one of the two main endocannabinoids produced by your body. In doing so, it can enhance anandamide’s effects, which include pain and inflammation relief. ¹⁴ ¹⁵

There’s already ample evidence showing that drugs that inhibit FAAH may be an effective way to relieve pain. For example, one highly cited study found that giving mice a FAAH inhibitor increased their anandamide levels and significantly lowered inflammatory pain. ¹⁶

Another mouse study found that genetically removing the FAAH enzyme or using a drug to block its effects both reduced pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. ¹⁷ Similarly, a study of a FAAH inhibitor in mice with osteoarthritis reported an improvement in chronic joint pain. ¹⁸

Other Ways CBD Can Help With Back Pain

CBD may also relieve back pain by interacting with other systems in your body.

For example, there’s evidence that CBD can influence TRP channels, which are proteins involved in regulating pain and inflammation, as well as other proteins with similar functions, such as PPAR receptors. ¹⁹ ²⁰

An animal study also found that CBD may relieve inflammatory and neuropathic (nerve) pain by acting on a3 glycine receptors. ²¹

Additionally, studies have shown that CBD can suppress the pro-inflammatory (NF)-κB pathway, which is involved in many inflammatory conditions, including those that may cause back pain, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. ²² ²³

What Does the Research Say?

While there isn’t much human research looking specifically at the use of CBD for back pain, multiple studies have shown that CBD has pain-relieving properties.

In one 2020 study, 29 people with peripheral neuropathy — a type of nerve pain that usually affects the hands and feet — applied placebo or CBD oil to their lower extremities.

Unlike the placebo group, the CBD group reported a significant reduction in pain as well as unwanted cold and itchy sensations. ²⁴

Meanwhile, a 2019 study examined the impact of adding full-spectrum CBD softgels to the regimen of 97 chronic pain sufferers for 8 weeks.

More than half (53%) reduced or completely stopped taking prescription painkillers (opioids), and 94% of the study participants reported improved quality of life, particularly in terms of pain and sleep. ²⁵

Another 2018 randomized, double-blind clinical trial looked at the effects of a synthetic transdermal synthetic CBD gel versus a placebo in 320 people with knee osteoarthritis. Although not everyone in the CBD group saw notable improvements, those that did reported weekly improvement in pain and physical function. ²⁶

Furthermore, a 2015 review paper that examined the findings of 79 clinical studies concluded that “there was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain…” ²⁷

In summary, there’s a large volume of evidence showing that CBD can relieve pain but high-quality studies looking specifically at the use of CBD for back pain are still needed.

Tips on Using CBD for Back Pain

If you’re interested in using CBD for back pain, you have two main options:

  • Take CBD internally in the form of CBD oil, capsules, gummies, vape e-liquid, or a similar product
  • Use CBD externally, as a cream or another topical preparation that’s applied directly to the affected area of the back

 

The major difference between the two is that topical CBD only provides benefits where you applied it (unless you’re using a transdermal product). Meanwhile, taking CBD internally produces body-wide effects. It’s best to use both if you’re looking for optimal pain relief.

Another way to make sure you’re getting the best possible effects is to opt for products made with full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD.

These whole-plant extracts contain not just CBD but multiple phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial active compounds found in hemp.

Research suggests that all of these substances work together to produce a synergistic “entourage effect,” which means whole-plant CBD products may offer greater benefits than those containing CBD alone. ²⁸

According to studies, an estimated 23% of the world’s adults suffer from chronic low back pain, and as many as 84% will experience it at some point in their lives.

How Much CBD Should I Take for Back Pain?

There’s no established dosage of CBD for back pain. Firstly, there isn’t enough research evidence to make dosage recommendations, secondly, the dosage can also vary drastically from person to person.

The right amount of CBD to take depends on many variables, including body weight, genetics, the severity of your back pain, and the kind of CBD product you’re taking.

As a result, most experts recommend the “start low and go slow” method. ²⁹

This means starting with a small dose of CBD (10-15 mg), waiting a few hours to see the effects, and gradually increasing as needed until you achieve the desired relief.

Note that if you’re using a topical product, it can be a bit more difficult to figure out the dosage.

One helpful tip is to divide the total amount of CBD in the container by the volume so you know how much CBD is in one ml. For example, a 30 ml cream with 600 mg of CBD would provide 20 mg per ml (600 mg ÷ 30 ml = 20 mg/ml).

Are There Any Side Effects?

Research suggests that CBD is a generally safe, well-tolerated substance with mostly minor side effects.

The following side effects have been reported by studies: ³⁰ ³¹

  • Tiredness
  • Drowsiness
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Low blood pressure
  • Lightheadedness
  • Changes in appetite or weight

 

However, most of these effects are mild and were only found in studies using high doses of pure CBD.

This means the average CBD user is unlikely to experience these side effects.

Also, if you’re using a topical CBD product, it’s even less likely to cause side effects because it’s difficult for CBD to penetrate deep enough into the skin to reach the bloodstream.

Conclusion

There isn’t yet any direct evidence supporting the use of CBD for back pain.

Still, many animal and human studies have shown that CBD can relieve various types of pain and researchers have uncovered multiple mechanisms through which it works.

The bottom line is that CBD oils may help reduce back pain and neck pain, even though more rigorous studies are needed.

If you want to use CBD for back pain, you can take it internally, apply it externally in the form of a topical product, or both.

CBD is a natural and relatively safe compound that’s unlikely to cause any significant side effects, which isn’t the case for standard prescription painkillers and opioids in particular.

If you find that CBD isn’t helping, there are health options with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Keep in mind that this substance isn’t legal everywhere in the United States, unlike hemp-derived CBD. With that, you may need to seek medical advice from a doctor before obtaining THC.


Gleb Oleinik

Gleb Oleinik is a freelance CBD & cannabis writer from Vancouver, Canada. He’s read thousands of studies about cannabinoids and other beneficial natural compounds, helping him translate complex science into plain language. He’s also written third-party lab test reports of CBD products and knows the industry inside and out. When he’s not writing, Gleb likes to spend his time in the gym and out in nature.