Perceptions regarding the use of cannabis in orthopaedics for treating musculoskeletal joint pain: A survey of arthritis patients
J Int Med Res. 2026 May;54(5):3000605261438343. doi: 10.1177/03000605261438343. Epub 2026 May 6.
ABSTRACT
There is renewed interest in investigating the analgesic properties of cannabis for musculoskeletal joint pain; however, available data remain limited. This cross-sectional study was designed with the objective of evaluating patients' perceptions regarding the effect of cannabis on arthritis pain. Patients with arthritis pain presenting at one of three orthopedic clinics were asked to complete the study questionnaire. Outcomes were the perceived effect of cannabis on arthritic pain (measured using the continuous visual analog scale, with scores ranging from 0% to 100%) and association between preferences, attitudes, and barriers to the clinical use of cannabis for arthritic pain (evaluated using multivariable linear regression analyses). Sample size was also calculated using multivariable regression analysis. The study included 406 patients, including 105 (26.3%) who had already previously used cannabis for medical purposes and 63 (15.8%) who had used it during the past year. Approximately one-third of the patients who were prescribed opioids (78/256, 30.5%) had used them in the last week. On an average, patients stated that cannabis could treat 53.6% ± 2.6% of their pain (95% confidence interval = 51.1%-56.1%) and helped them replace 50.4% ± 3.2% of their analgesic medications (95% confidence interval = 47.2%-53.6%). Additionally, 88.8% of the patients (135/152) believed that cannabis would aid pain management. Individuals who had used cannabis for medical purposes (odds ratio = 7.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.6-12.8, p = 0.001) and patients reporting more severe baseline pain (β = 0.2 per point, 95% confidence interval = 0.1-0.3, p = 0.012) were more likely to report meaningful pain improvement. A quarter of the patients with arthritis already used cannabis, and many patients regarded cannabis as an effective pain treatment option. Patient preferences regarding administration and distribution, timing, and indications may help inform clinicians regarding the optimal utilization of cannabis in patients with joint and arthritis pain.
PMID:42093160 | DOI:10.1177/03000605261438343