Does back pain get worse as you age or doesn't it? I've heard different points of view. Some people think it does, while others believe that because you're less active and therefore you take fewer risks, your pain is likely to decrease.
A new review published in the August 2012 issue of Chiropractic Manual Therapy attempted to answer this question. The purpose was to determine if any type of spine pain, from neck to low back becomes more common in the older population by examining the prevalence in middle aged people, and also seeing if that increase continued into old age.
The review looked at 12 studies. The reviewers concluded that back pain is no more common in people over 60 than in those who are middle aged. They also found that back pain does not increase as you become elderly. In fact, their research suggests it seems to decrease in the oldest people.
Well, that confirms it, or at least makes the case for decreased back pain in seniors more credible. In case you're interested, my opinion is that we get smarter about managing and preventing pain, as well as decreasing our risk for injury.
Related:
- Sleeping Comfortably with Neck Arthritis
- Yoga for Spinal Arthritis
- Tips for Exercising with Spinal Arthritis
Source:
Fejer R, Leboeuf-Yde C. Does back and neck pain become more common as you get older? A systematic literature review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2012 Aug 10;20(1):24.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but realistically, you need to know this: There is no cure for osteoarthritis of the spine, the most common cause of chronic low back pain. Your lumbar spine is a weight bearing structure, similar to your knees, your hips, and ankles.
Osteoarthritis is the chronic degeneration of the structures that make up the spinal column: mainly the discs, the cartilage, and the ligaments. The discs dehydrate and collapse; the cartilage cracks and breaks down; the ligaments become stiff and less flexible. Even without external factors caused by overwork, this process is related to aging. Until someone comes up with a fool proof method of reversing aging, osteoarthritis will not be reversible.
Exercise of joints with osteoarthritis is important. This is true for backs, hips, knees, and ankles. Motion is the lotion, as one neurosurgeon I met told me. Under-exercise and over-exercise can lead to more degeneration and pain. When you suffer a back injury, motion is an important part of recovering, and keeping the muscles strong in your abdomen and back help protect you from further injury. Gradual onset of osteoarthritis is almost inevitable with a severe injury, but moderate exercise delays the progression. So, even if osteoarthritis can’t be cured, it can be delayed and the pain minimized. Being active is important.
In addition to being active, decreasing the load your lower spine has to bear also slows the progression of osteoarthritis. So if you are overweight, losing weight helps your back. Avoid lifting very heavy objects.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive medical condition with no cure. That does not mean having this disease is a death sentence. Many people live very well with it. It’s not reversible, but you can slow its progression if you remain active. To minimize discomfort lose weight and don’t overdo it.
Bill Yancey, MD
Whatyourdoctor dot blogspot dot com
Thank you. it was interesting and informative