4 Common Causes Of Aches And Pain As You Age

As we age, we become more susceptible to conditions like headaches and arthritis. This can be a severe cause for concern for older adults as they may experience chronic pain and limited mobility. The reasons for this are varied and complicated, but one factor is the way the brain changes as we age.

The number of neurons in the brain decreases as we get older, which means that messages from our limbs may not be relayed as quickly or clearly to other parts of the body. This can lead to aches and pains that people never experienced before. 

Over time they become more common, and you may need help from your doctor who will prescribe pain management treatment such as intercostal nerve block treatments to help with pain management. 

Since there are different types of pain that can affect you as you get older, it's important to understand and know the difference between them. There are four different common causes of aches and pain as you get older: 

Back Pain 

Back pain is the most common cause in people between 16 and 45 years old. It can also lead to chronic or severe pain that affects your quality of life. Back pain is also the most common reason for people to stop working. It's because your office desk does not fit you, it's too low, too high, too close to the wall, or it has sharp edges.

If you experience any form of back or shoulder pain, make sure you consult a medical professional for treatment. This way, you won't be hurting yourself more than necessary.

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common issue for people as they age. Joints will wear and tear over time and cause inflammation and pain. The first step in treating joint pain is to pinpoint the location of the pain. For example, does it only happen when you sit down or bend over?

Nowadays, medical science has come up with many ways to treat joint pain, such as massage therapy and medication. With the help of these two treatments, joint pain will lessen as you age.

Muscle Pain 

There are many different types of muscle pain, but they can be lumped into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute muscle pain is often caused by injury or overexertion. Chronic muscle pains are often due to age-related conditions like arthritis or repetitive strain.

Carpal Tunnel 

Eight small bones, called carpals, border the carpal tunnel. These bones are arranged in two rows on each side of the wrist. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel on its way to the hand and distributes sensation (touch) and motor (movement) signals to parts of your hand.

The major causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are: repetitive motion, work or dominant posture, osteoarthritis, obesity, pregnancy or diabetes mellitus type 1, age-related degeneration of collagen fibers within tissues around the carpal tunnel.

To treat carpal tunnel, doctors would prescribe pain medication and request that you stop using the hand to give the joint and hand a rest. 

If you experience carpal tunnel or any pain listed here, it's worth getting in touch with your doctor so they can help you before your pain worsens.