Q: Dear Dr. Greg,

Since retiring from football, I have a lot of aches and pains. I don’t want to take narcotics, and too much ibuprofen is bad for my stomach. Some of my friends told me to take CBD. Should I try it for pain?

Joe | NFL

A: Dear Joe,

Pain and arthritis are common problems for athletes. Many retired football, hockey, and basketball players deal with pain every day. Surprisingly, CBD may hold the key to treating your pain.

According to Harvard and the Arthritis Foundation, most CBD users reported an improvement in sleep, physical function, and well-being. A report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine found substantial evidence that cannabis is effective for chronic pain in adults. However, they could not tease out how much of that benefit came from CBD. 

While there are few good studies on CBD in humans (and even fewer in athletes), it appears that CBD may help:

●      Reduce inflammation (beneficial for retired players)

●      Decrease anxiety

●      Reduce pain

●      Protect the brain & gut

●      Improve healing from bone injuries

Thankfully, CBD use is permitted by most major sporting authorities. However, many CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, which may trigger a positive drug test and endanger your career. If you’re an active athlete, I recommend that you only use CBD products that have undergone rigorous third-party testing for purity. It should come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). You don’t want any nasty surprises!

By the way, I agree with you about avoiding ibuprofen (Motrin). Long-term use of ibuprofen and other NSAIDs puts you at risk for GI bleeding, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Dr. Greg