Did you know? Nearly 100 million Americans are suffering from some sort of chronic pain. It means that they experience a pain for longer after having injury or illness. Besides, millions of other people are having short term or acute pain. Back, neck, shoulders, knees, head and joints are the common parts where people experience pain as they grow older. However, women are more prone to the pain, especially right before their periods when estrogen levels go lower. Drugs and medications are not the permanent solutions as they minimize the pain by 20-30% only.
In nutshell, pain, whether it’s chronic or acute type, tends to be the part of our lifestyle as we grow older.
But you can manage your pain with changes in your lifestyle; keeping yourself fit and following some precautions. Go through the following point to know how.
Lower Back Pain:
Lower backache is common chronic problem in 50’s due to the sedentary lifestyle and injuries putting much pressure on the back. On the other hand, older adults are prone to it if they have arthritis. Lower back pain can hinder your daily activities like lifting a box, job and even your sex life.
You can keep the back pain under control by doing strength training and cardio exercise. This is because they boost blood flow and strengthen your core muscles supporting your spine, thereby reducing the pressure.
You can also go for a physical therapy to relive your backache. Always consult your doctor before taking OTC medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. In case of severe back pain for more than one week, see your physician as soon as possible.
Headaches:
Nearly 45 million Americans are having regular headaches while 75% of all headaches are tension headaches. Many of the health experts believe that they are caused by muscle tension, dehydration, period, stress and weather changes. You are vulnerable to headaches if you belong to the age group between 20s and 50s.
Massaging, breathing techniques and meditation can help you ease the headache. For example, you can massage the area with menthol cream on your forehead or the base of your neck for your forehead and temple pain. Take pain medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or a medicine for no longer than 3 days without talking to your doctor.
Frozen Shoulders:
Frozen shoulder is the common source of stiffness and joint pain being common in people aged between 40s and 70s. You can experience the pain from prolonged shoulder immobilisation after surgery or chronic pain conditions such as arthritis.
Stretching and shoulder workouts are the effective ways to minimize the chances of shoulder pain. Consult your physiotherapist for the right stretching for your shoulder.
Joint Pain:
You may have many old people around grumbling about their joint pain. Red and swollen joints are not only painful, but they interrupt you from doing the daily things. Arthritis, a common joint inflammation, is the top chronic pain trigger in the nation which is caused by wear and tear and autoimmune diseases.
To minimize the joint pain, staying active and following your doctor’s prescription are the optimal solutions.
