Gonarthrosis: living with knee osteoarthritis and self-care rituals

Osteoarthritis is a progressive deterioration of the joint cartilage. In the knee, it shows up as mechanical pain made worse by walking or prolonged standing, short morning stiffness of under 30 minutes, a gradual restriction of range of motion and sometimes inflammatory flares with swelling. According to the Assurance Maladie, prevalence exceeds 65% beyond the age of 80. Excess weight, previous trauma and demanding activities are the main risk factors.

The HAS recommends a stepped approach: therapeutic education to understand the condition better, adapted physical activity (unloaded cycling, swimming, walking, quadriceps strengthening) as pillar number one, weight loss where needed (a 5% drop in body weight already significantly reduces the load), physiotherapy, painkillers on medical advice where required, and surgery as a last resort when the impairment becomes disabling.

Since February 2021, cannabidiol has been listed in the European Commission's CosIng database, which places CBD creams and balms under European cosmetics regulation 1223/2009. The Conseil d'État ruling of 29 December 2022 settled the French framework: finished-product THC below 0.30% is mandatory. No pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory action may be attributed to these cosmetics; the permitted vocabulary remains that of joint comfort and the massage ritual.

A daily 30-minute walk at a moderate pace maintains mobility and muscle tone. Quadriceps strengthening, through seated leg extensions or mini-squats against a wall, stabilises the joint. Gentle mobility work in the morning, a few minutes of slow flexion and extension, helps to "unstick" the knee. Regular unloaded activity such as swimming or low-resistance cycling eases the strain from body weight. A massage with a CBD cosmetic balm, once or twice a day, in slow circles around the knee for 3 to 5 minutes, fits into that ritual. Finally, heat eases chronic stiffness, while cold suits inflammatory flares with swelling better.

An inflammatory flare with marked swelling, night pain that wakes you, a sudden restriction of mobility, a locked joint or a rapid deterioration in walking all warrant a prompt consultation. The French society for the study and treatment of pain points out that chronic pain deserves assessment once it has lasted three months. For a complete routine, our article on resources and associations for osteoarthritis in France lists the main points of contact.

CBD is not a medicine. If knee pain is persistent or intense, consult a doctor, a rheumatologist or a physiotherapist.

Is osteoarthritis an inevitable part of ageing?

Osteoarthritis is very common, but the impairment it causes is not inevitable. Early management, combining physical activity and weight control, slows its clinical progression.

Does sport make knee osteoarthritis worse?

On the contrary, in the great majority of cases. The HAS recommendations stress that adapted activity slows progression and reduces pain. Only certain high-load sports should be moderated once gonarthrosis is established.

Can a CBD balm replace a prescribed anti-inflammatory?

No. A cosmetic never takes the place of medical treatment. If your doctor has prescribed an anti-inflammatory, do not stop the treatment without their advice; the balm may be added to a massage ritual.

At what point should a knee replacement be considered?

When the functional impairment becomes disabling and resists well-conducted medical treatment, including activity, physiotherapy and painkillers. The decision is taken with an orthopaedic surgeon and a rheumatologist.