Tips For Managing Chronic Pain
The National Institutes of Health found that 30 percent of adults 65 and older suffer from chronic pain. Research also finds that chronic pain tends to increase with age, making it difficult for older adults to perform daily tasks and care for themselves.
Common Cause Of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is pain that persists for more than two weeks. Depending on the cause and available treatment, it can last months or years. Chronic pain can be mild and grow more severe with time, or it may remain mild but not go away.
There are many causes of chronic pain, especially in older adults. A few common causes include musculoskeletal conditions, nerve damage, injuries, and cancer.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
About 1.7 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal conditions, which are among the leading contributors to disability and significantly reduce mobility and agility. Musculoskeletal conditions affect the muscles, joints, bones, and surrounding connective tissue. Common conditions affecting seniors include osteoarthritis, gout, osteoporosis, and osteopenia.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage, also called peripheral neuropathy, occurs when an injury to the nerves causes adverse signs and symptoms. Injuries cause symptoms by affecting nerve signals to the brain. These symptoms can include muscle weakness, cramps, twitching, tingling, loss of reflex, or loss of senses.
Injuries
Physical traumatic injuries to the body can cause long-lasting pain, especially if those injuries are left untreated. Injuries can include past sports injuries, trauma from a car accident or other accident, or a recent fall.
Cancer-Pain
Some types of cancer cause pain, usually when there is a tumor pressing on nerves or bones. Individuals receiving cancer treatments can also experience pain from the treatments. Cancer-related pain varies as much as cancer itself, and it can be difficult to know the true source of the pain unless you receive a cancer diagnosis.
Managing Your Chronic Pain
So many adults live in pain, but it’s not something you have to accept without a fight! There are many pain-relief treatment options, and the sooner you treat and manage your pain, the sooner you can get back to enjoying a high-quality life.
- Medications: Pain-relief medications may help relieve some of your discomfort. If over-the-counter meds are not providing relief, talk to your doctor about options or specific medications for the underlying cause of your pain.
- Physical activity: Regular exercise relieves pain by releasing endorphins, improving circulation, and strengthening the muscles. Be sure to get any activity cleared by your medical team first.
- Massage therapy: Getting a massage from a licensed massage therapist may help relieve muscle pain and improve circulation. It can also help you relax and reduce stress that may be contributing to your pain.
- Surgery: If you have an underlying condition causing your pain, such as tumors or injury, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery to treat and relieve some discomfort.
Pain Management Assistance With Visiting Angels
Moderate to chronic pain can make completing daily tasks like housekeeping and personal grooming difficult. Instead of struggling to do everything yourself, consider working with a compassionate caregiver from Visiting Angels.
Visiting Angels specializes in assisting seniors with nonmedical tasks at home. Our team of home aides can help with light housekeeping, medication reminders, mobility, dressing, grooming, and showering, and are experienced in helping those living with chronic pain. We also provide transportation to appointments and daily companionship.
Contact our Farmington office to learn more about at-home care with Visiting Angels.