Originally Posted by canklecat

Regarding the recovery aspect, that's a valid point too. For many of us, relief from pain and inflammation is a routine part of recovery. Helps get us back on the bike, walking or doing whatever exercise helps keep us moving. And pain relief also helps relieve anxiety, tension, stress, all of which contribute to poor dietary habits, especially indulging in comfort foods.

I've heard claims that CBD can relieve inflammation. I haven't seen any studies confirming that. Pain relief doesn't necessarily mean it's also reducing inflammation.

One of those claiming relief from both pain and inflammation is Floyd Landis (Floyd's of Leadville), who's suffered from hip pain since he was in his 20s from professional cycling and related injuries. That's what finally sold me on suspending my usual skepticism and at least trying CBD. Knowing what chronic severe pain feels like, I knew it would either work or it wouldn't, but no placebo effect would persuade me my neck and shoulder weren't aching.

So while CBD helps my pain, I still take a prescription NSAID for inflammation (diclofenac). If studies show that CBD does relieve inflammation I'll consider discontinuing all NSAIDs. But at least I've cut back on the ibuprofen. For more than a decade after my neck and back were broken in 2001 I took a fistful of ibuprofen every day, usually 800-2400 mg a day. It barely helped with pain. It was a relief to get the diclofenac prescription -- it's just two small enteric coated pills a day. I've been out of it for a week or two and had to return to using ibuprofen.

Since using an effective brand and type of CBD I've cut back to only on 200 mg ibuprofen on rare occasions during bike rides when my neck starts aching -- usually after 30 miles or so. My limit is about 50 miles for now before the pain becomes unbearable. And it usually takes a full day and visit to my PT or chiropractor to loosen up the knotted muscles.

There's also some mild anxiety relief, although that may be due in part to the pain relief. Folks with chronic pain often don't realize how tense they are until they get some real pain relief and can relax. It doesn't have the effect of a prescription tranquilizer, or even melatonin or valerian root.

I've used the CBD isolates for my cats and it seems to help. The oldest is 16 now and last year she wasn't eating or moving around much and often seemed to cry out in pain. Since using a tiny amount of CBD isolate in the common drinking water dish, she's put on weight, is more active and even plays a little with the other cats. And all three cats no longer freak out during thunderstorms, yet they aren't doped up. As another BF member pointed out on another discussion about CBD, animals probably don't respond to a placebo effect. If it works, it works, but they can't be fooled by placebo. It's also possible that the home life overall is less stressful now, so perhaps it's coincidental. Last year was just plain awful, so perhaps the oldest cat was picking up on that stress level.