How Painful is Joint Pain in Old Age

Joint pains are common in old age and untreated joint pains can become chronic and disrupt daily activities during old age. Be it young or old age, you must not neglect any kind of pain in your body because they are one of the causes of poor health. It is often found that many old age people dismiss their joint pains as a part of aging, if not, quietly endures the pain. You must not commit such an act because joint pains if left untreated can diminish your quality of life. So, what are joint pains?

Those parts of your body where your bones meet are called joints and this helps skeleton to move. Joints include Hips, knees, elbows & shoulders. Joint pains refer to soreness, aches, and discomfort in any of the body's joints. They are most prevalent in & can take the worst form in old age. They are extremely painful and can also be the result of any injury or illness. Arthritis is considered to be the common cause of joint pains; however, there can be other factors as well.

Joint pains persisting for more than a period of three months can lead to several diseases such as degenerative spinal disc and can even cause cancer. As per the Pain Association of Singapore, about 2 out of five old age people suffer from joint pains. The most common type of joint pains in old age can be:

·       Inflammation in the knees, spine, hips & fingers

·       Neck Pain

·       Nerve Pain

·       Joint stiffness

·       Lower back pain

We now talk about the causes of joint pains in old age!

you can watch this video as well for an adio-visual guide on "Painful Joint Pain in Old Age"

·       Arthritis: 

   It is a musculoskeletal disease causing joint pains, stiffness, and inflammation. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types in old age. Osteoarthritis can be said to the progressive wear and tear of joint cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which is like the body attacking itself.

·       Degenerative disc disease: 

      Neck pain and lower back pain are the sources of this disease. It causes pressure on the nerves or spinal cord. It is the most common form of joint pains in old age.

·       Frozen shoulder: 

    It is another form of joint pains and is mostly found within the age of 40-70. It occurs when the connective tissues tighten around the shoulder joint & can also arise after surgery. 

Old age people did not have to visit hospitals for curing joint pains. Treatment for joint pains can include

·       Pain relief medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]. It reduces joint pains to a good extent

·       Avoid prolonged bed rest to get relief from neck, lower back or joint pains.

·       Physiotherapy and exercise to strengthen abdominal muscles and the back

·       Anti-depressant medications

·       Muscle relaxants for neck, lower back, and backaches

Joint pains in old age are the result of the damage that occurs through normal wear and tear. Seek the help of a doctor immediately if you start to develop any unexplained joint pain. Early diagnosis can allow effective treatment for the same