Aging is associated with aches and pains that get in the way of living according to one’s preference. 80% of people have experienced pain after they become older. There are many reasons why these aches and pains can occur at 50 years and after. We will discuss these in the following article. We will also talk about how to get rid of old age aches and pains through various methods.

Sometimes people might ignore the pain and try to deal with it by self-medication. But this can be very dangerous. The pains are a signal in the body that something is not right and should be looked at by a doctor. If left untreated, it could lead to more serious problems. Coping with aches and pains in old age is tricky but there are some things that you can do to handle it yourself.

 

Each one of us must have experienced pain at any point in our lives. When we were young and would get hurt, we would just shrug it off as a natural by-product of the wound. Of course, we treat the wound and try whatever possible to reduce the pain. The older we get, our ability to tolerate pain and live with it reduces. It is common to hear people say that pain is a part of life after 50 years and we will have to just live with it. Pain is more common in older ages because the body is unable to withstand the rigor as before and healing slows down. Thus, old people are forced to suffer from chronic pain without proper diagnosis and treatment. But, slowly people have started seeing old age pain and aches as a matter of concern.

As said earlier, pains and aches in old age are common. A large number of people at the age of 50 or above have been said to suffer from some ache or pain. This pain causes discomfort and reduces the quality of life of the person. It is important to understand that this puts pressure on the social network of the person and society as a whole. Yet, pain does not need to be a common part of old age. There is no one reason behind the pain, it has different causes, body organs affected, and intensity.

Older people have to go through more chronic pain when compared to their younger counterparts. Young people also have a better system of managing pain. Things are much more difficult for older people living in old-age homes as their pain is not attended to enough. People who live at home have access to better care.

Long-term pain can cause many health problems and its effect can be more and more with age. This can become a big problem for older people as they might be having other illnesses which also slow down healing. The person might consume medications for all these issues which could further cause side effects.

The first step to treatment is the assessment of the pain. Asking the right questions about the type of pain, the site of pain, and the general feeling of pain is a part of the assessment. This also depends on how well the patient describes his or her experiences. Some people are not very open to discussing their pain because of embarrassment or communication difficulties. Patients who experience communication problems need their caregivers to assist in speaking about the pain. Speaking about pain is important because pain is different for everyone, knowing someone’s feeling of pain and its effects on their life can help design treatment as well.

Many things influence the feeling of pain and its intensity. The experience of pain is different in different situations. For eg, pain is more intense when you are feeling angry or sad. Emotions have an impact on pain. Similarly, thereare different treatments for pain as well from medicines to exercise to acupuncture. Their success depends on the site of pain, person’s health, and intensity of pain.

• Drink enough water to manage the side effects of medicines. This will also keep muscles from cramping or paining. this will also prevent you to lose important minerals for the body.
• Take a warm bath. This will help in relaxing the body and lead to pain relief.
• Adding bath salts to your bathtub can further help in getting rid of old age aches and pains.
• Use a heating blanket.
• Heating blankets can relieve pain and help the body get into a state of rest. Heat treatments can help in treating pains and aches after 50.
• Aromatherapy can also help with relaxing the body and mind. Use different scented oils to give yourself a massage.
• Apply an ice pack to the area where it hurts. This can help in stopping further damage to the muscles. Apply this for 30 minutes and then see the difference.
• Take medication if the pain does not stop within 24 hours. Consult your doctor for the appropriate pain medication.
• Seek treatment for the disease or condition which is causing these aches and pains. Treating the source can eventually stop the pain.
• Exercise regularly. Do at least 30 minutes of exercise of your choice to keep the joints and muscles healthy and active.
• Engage in stress management.
• By reducing stress, you can pull down your pain levels in a significant way.
• Go for regular health checkups after the age of 50 years.

Aches and pains after 50 years are common. But the effect it has on the person is very disruptive. It can reduce the person’s quality of life and will not let him or her lead a healthy, active life. But, we need not treat this pain something you just have to live with. It is treatable with the help of a proper check-up by the doctor and medications. There are some techniques that you can use to manage your pain at home like eating healthy, exercising, managing stress, and going for regular checkups. If you are interested in knowing more about aches and pain and their treatment, please enroll in our course ‘Chronic Pain‘.