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Elderly Back Pain
Elderly back pain is common to experience as we age. Getting older always has
degenerative
effects on our bodies. It is typical for age to cause us many minor aches and pains. Some pain is normal, while others can be debilitating. Many back pain conditions can be created, or worsened, by age. We must all get older, but with proper preparation, we can reduce the probability of severe back pain later in life.
Elderly Back Pain Problems
The following conditions are created, or worsened, by the aging process:
* Osteoporosis
creates weak and porous bones.
Vertebral fractures
are a common result of osteoporosis in elderly patients.
* Osteoarthritis
can create pain in many areas of the body, including the spine. Bone spur formation in the vertebrae may lead to neurological impairment or mechanical pain.
* Degenerative spondylolisthesis
is sometimes a result of severe spinal arthritis.
* Degenerative disc disease
is a normal part of aging. It is often not symptomatic, but can create pain in some patients.
* Spinal Stenosis
is common in elderly people. Stenosis may or may not cause pain. Spinal stenosis can also cause neurological impairment.
* Pinched Nerves
can be caused by spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, bone spurs, or spinal curvature.
* Adult scoliosis
is often a result of aging and osteoporosis.
Prevention of Elderly Back Pain
It is important to maintain your general health throughout your entire life. It is much easier to prevent back pain than to treat it once it is crippling you. There is no way to guarantee pain free twilight years, but with a few guidelines, you can stack the odds in your favor.
* Eat healthy.
Include proper nutrition, including calcium, magnesium and vitamin D for strong bones.
* Stay active. Regular
exercise
at all ages in life is important for strong bones and muscles.
* Do not abuse your body. Drugs and
smoking
are bad for you. Alcohol in large quantities is also detrimental to your general health.
* Keep a healthy state of mind.
Psychological back pain
is very common and can make life a nightmare at any age.
Recommendation for Elderly Back Pain
We must all eventually get old. Young people feel that they will never get old. Middle aged people feel they are far from old age. Elderly people wonder how they got this old and how their life went by so fast…The alternative to old age is to die young and that is not a very good solution!!! Take care of yourself right now. Do not wait any longer to be as healthy as possible. Do not put off till tomorrow what you should have done yesterday. Good health is a lifelong concern… Take care of your body in every way. You owe it to yourself and to those who love you. Make your golden years sparkle, rather than be tarnished by
chronic back pain.
Work everyday to stay one step ahead of potential back problems in your future.
REMEMBER, IT IS LATER THAN YOU THINK…
Elderly Back Pain to Lower Back Pain Home page
7/28/06 Revised 5/13/08

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