Learn How to Ease Back Pain As you Age
Your spine is a column of 24 bones that stretch from your skull to your tailbone and it acts as an encasing and protection for your spinal cord.
The tiny joints are called facets and they link the vertebrae together to make one long row from top to bottom.
As you age, you will notice more aches and pains in your back.
The most common reasons why we develop back pain as we age, specifically after the age of 50 are:
Degenerative Changes:
Loss of moisture in discs and joints make them less effective at absorbing shock
Spinal stenosis in Elderly:
This usually occurs in the lower back and happens when the canal through which your spinal cord passes narrows because of disc degeneration, thickening ligaments or arthritis.
Spondylolisthesis:
this occurs when a spinal vertebra slips forward onto a vertebra below
Back pain is almost always inevitable in elderly people because over the years we put strain on our back by lifting, moving, sitting, and just the every day wear and tear on our bodies.
For some it may be more sever than others but there are several things you can do to ease back pain.
Im this article we are going to cover some home remedies for easing back pain as you age as well as some more drastic measures you can take for those with more chronic back pain.
Here are Ways to Ease Back Pain as you Age:
Physical Activity
Daily walks and light physical activity can actually help alleviate and prevent back pain associated with aging.
Moving your body keeps your spin lubricated and active so that it doesn’t get stiff.
Physical Therapy for Elderly
Regular physical therapy with licensed professional can also help exercise the areas that are causing pain.
Physical therapists or trainers can give you specific exercises that help strengthen your core, improve balance and flexibility.
Strengthening your back and core muscles helps support your spine.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors specialize in bones so it is normal to go to a chiropractor for back pain.
Sometimes realigning your back is all that it takes to alleviate some of the pain.
They can also prescribe treatments specific to your pain areas.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the process of inserting fine needs into the skin, in specific into body points to manipulate them.
Acupuncture has been known to relieve back pain by stimulating the bodies healing process.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
These include Ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, or acetaminophen.
These medications work as an anti-inflammatory but must be used with caution.
Prolonged use can have side effects.
Apply Cold or Heat
Applying hot or cold compresses really helps with back pain.
Try alternating 20 minutes hot, and 20 minutes cold to see if this help your pain.
Taking a warm bath or lying under a heat lamp has also been known to treat back pain.
Use a Tailbone Cushion
Tailbone cushions are designed to be sat on and they are shaped in a way that takes the pressure off of your lower back and tailbone area.
If you sit for long periods of time this is high recommended to alleviate and prevent lower back pain.
Checkout some really great tailbone cushion recommendations from Style Within Reach.
Rest Up
When your back pain is too much to handle or if you notice it gets progressively worse throughout the day (especially if you are active), sometimes resting up is what you actually need.
Nerve blocks and injections
Also known as steroids, this type of treatment is recommended for those that have sever back pain that effects their quality of life.
Surgery
If all else fails, and you are living with chronic back pain, talking to your doctor about different surgical procedures might be your next step.
There are some procedures that can be done if you qualify that will drastically improve your quality of life by elevating your back pain either completely or partially.
As always, consult your physician before trying any of the above methods mentioned in this article, especially if you are an elderly person.