Arthritis Archive

Sales of cannabidiol-infused products are expected to top $2 billion by 2021. But is CBD right for you?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is touted as a natural wonder that can help treat symptoms of everything from anxiety to arthritis pain. The plant extract comes from two varieties of cannabis — hemp and marijuana — and is available in creams, tinctures, oils, patches, gummy bears, capsules, and more. You can even add CBD to a latte if you walk into a coffee shop in some cities.

But is CBD safe for older adults? There haven't been a lot of large studies of CBD's safety, but more traditional medicines for pain and anxiety are not free of adverse effects, either. "I think CBD is likely safer than many other treatments people use for pain, insomnia, or anxiety," says Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Other physicians don't think we know enough about the safety profile of CBD to be sure.

Here's what you can do about the three most common foot issues related to aging.

When our feet hurt, we hurt all over. That saying is often attributed to the Greek philosopher Socrates, and it's as relevant today as it was more than 2,500 years ago.

"Our feet are our vehicle to an active lifestyle," says Dr. Christopher DiGiovanni, chief of the Foot and Ankle Service at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and Newton Wellesley Hospital. "If your feet are not sound and healthy, it's tough to keep the rest of you healthy, too."

Ask the doctors

Q. My friend insists that her arthritis pain gets worse just before it rains. Is it true that joint pain can intensify based on the weather?

A. Despite what your friend, your grandmother, and generations of people have sworn is the case, experts haven't found consistent evidence that arthritis pain gets worse on rainy days. At best, study results over the years have been mixed, and one large, recent study seems to cast doubt on the theory.

Research we're watching

If you have an arthritis-related condition called Heberden's nodes, you may be at higher risk for arthritis-related knee problems, according to a study published online January 9 by Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Heberden's nodes develop when cartilage in the fingers wears away, causing the bones to rub against one another. This prompts new bone to form, creating bony nodules in the knuckles closest to the fingertips.

Strength training is good for just about everyone. It's especially beneficial for people with arthritis. When properly done as part of a larger exercise program, strength training helps them support and protect joints, not to mention ease pain, stiffness, and possibly swelling. Yet, the thought of starting a weight training program can be daunting to many arthritis sufferers.

If you have arthritis and want to incorporate strength training into your health routine, these tips can help you get started.

Men may avoid activity because of their knee pain, but movement is exactly what they need.

It is perhaps the ultimate exercise catch-22: it's hard to move with knee osteoarthritis, but moving helps relieve osteoarthritis knee pain.

More than 30 million Americans have osteoarthritis, the most common kind of arthritis. While osteoarthritis can affect the hips, lower back, neck, and fingers, it occurs most often in the knees. In fact, an estimated 10% of men ages 60 and older have symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.