Back Pain and Aging

Incidences of low back pain and neck pain become increasingly common as one ages. It is mostly due to our bones becoming more brittle, and the soft connective tissue of our spines (intervetebral discs) becoming drier and thinner. The average ages of back pain patients is adults ages 50 and older.

Common conditions treated that cause low back pain or neck pain include degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated discs, spinal arthritis, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, ankylosis spondylitis.

The Nature of Pain
Back pain can present itself differently among the population. Pain symptoms may be dull and general, sharp and specific, periodic or constant. Patients may experience stiffness, numbness, spasms or tingling.

Because nerves are often affected, it’s possible that low back pain or neck pain can be linked to pain in the limbs, and/or symptoms of illness in the organs or major body systems. In fact, some patients who receive care for their low back pain or neck pain find that other conditions that are digestive or respiratory in nature dissipate, or that limb numbness or tingling disappears. If they have difficulty sleeping, this too may improve.

Maintaining Spinal Health As We Age
Genetics do play a role in one’s health. But we are not necessarily fated to our genetics. There are things one can do to diminish the role of aging and genetics, to achieve and maximize their own optimum spinal health.

Everyone is different and each lives a different life. In common, there are basic things one can do to keep their spine strong and fit, and mitigate injury or harm to the back or neck. Poor nutrition, stress, lack of fitness and bad posture are key factors that must be noticed. Health is affected not only by what we put in our bodies, but also by what we expose ourselves to, and what we put ourselves through daily.

Lifestyle: Eat right. Exercise. Maintain a healthy diet. De-stress. We’ve all heard this so many times. It’s essential.

Environment: One’s surroundings do impact, directly or indirectly, one’s health.

  • Get outdoors! A daily dose of fresh air and sun is always beneficial.
  • Live (or at least visit often) where the air is clean.
  • Avoid taking jobs where you are exposed to fumes and chemicals.
  • Take great care when you must necessarily move or lift heavy unwieldy items.
  • Apply proper rules of ergonomics to your workplace and home.

Chemicals: Exposure to, ingesting or applying chemicals affects one’s health.

  • Stay away from alcohol, smokes, drugs.
  • Avoid taking medications for prolonged periods of time (unless of course, prescribed by your doctor to treat a specific medical condition).
  • Take care to consider lotions applied, sprays used, hair colors, and other chemicals that you apply to yourself. They may be unhealthy after prolonged periods of use.
  • Use “green” cleaning products whenever possible in your home.

We don’t always realize how our lifestyle, environments, and exposure to various chemicals add up to affect our health, but the affects and real and present.

Living a Pain-Free Life
March forward into age with vigour and strength. Start today incorporating healthy spine-friendly changes into your life. If low back pain or neck pain do occur, visit a back pain expert as soon as possible. Often people wait until their condition becomes extreme, at which point treatment becomes more intensive and challenging. Everyone deserves a pain-free life!