CBD shows promise for post-operative pain, New York researchers say

By Vuk Zdinjak

An orally absorbed pill containing CBD relieves pain after shoulder surgery without safety concerns, a new study shows.

Led by researchers from NYU Langone Health’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery in New York, the study found that the ORAVEXX pill safely managed pain after minimally invasive rotator cuff surgery and produced no side effects sometimes associated with CBD use, such as nausea and anxiety and liver toxicity. The findings were presented at the 2022 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Photo by Erin Hinterland via Pixababy

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“There is an urgent need for viable pain management alternatives, and our study presents this form of CBD as a promising tool following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair,” said lead investigator Michael J. Alaia, MD, FAAOS, associate professor in the Department of orthopedic surgery. “It could be a new, low-cost approach to pain relief without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs and the risks of addiction associated with opiates. Additionally, CBD has the benefit of pain relief without the psychotropic effects associated with THC or marijuana.”

How the process was carried out

The phase 1/2 multi-centre clinical trial randomly enrolled 99 participants between the ages of 18 and 75 years at 2 study sites, with half allocated to a placebo group and the others to the group that received orally absorbed CBD. Participants received a low dose of Percocet and were instructed to come off the anesthetic as soon as possible and then take the placebo/CBD 3 times a day for 14 days after surgery.

On the first day after surgery, patients receiving CBD felt an average of 23 percent less pain as measured by the visual analog scale pain scale compared to patients receiving the placebo, highlighting that CBD has significant benefits in patients with moderate pain can bring.

On both the first and second days after surgery, patients receiving CBD reported 22 to 25 percent greater satisfaction with pain control compared to patients receiving placebo. Further analysis also showed that patients receiving 50mg of CBD reported less pain and greater satisfaction with pain control compared to patients receiving placebo. No major side effects were reported.

Results promising, but…

Although the results are promising, Dr. Alaia discourages consumers from looking for commercial CBD products.

“Our study evaluates a well-designed, carefully evaluated product as part of an FDA-approved investigational application for a new drug. This is currently experimental medicine and does not require a prescription yet,” Alaia said.

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Going forward, NYU Langone has initiated a second study evaluating whether ORAVEXX can specifically treat chronic pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Multiple phase 2 trials are also planned to evaluate the drug’s effectiveness in other acute and chronic pain management issues and to assess CBD’s role in inflammation.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.