Is Back Pain Normal as You Age?

Back pain is incredibly common, affecting 80% of adults at some point in their lives. Although it strikes people of all ages, back pain is especially likely to occur as you age.

If you’ve noticed more achiness, pain, and stiffness in your back as you’ve gotten older, don’t be too alarmed. Some back pain is normal as the years go by.

However, even though back pain is part of life for many older people, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. In fact, there are many effective ways to address back pain.

Dr. Sachida Manocha at the Interventional Pain Center in Newark and Worthington, Ohio, specializes in helping people manage and overcome back pain. He would like to share this important information about back care and aging.

Causes of back pain

Your back is a complicated structure made up of many different parts, including joints, ligaments, bones, discs, nerves, and muscles. When one or more of those parts isn’t functioning as well as it should, pain can occur.

As you grow older, wear and tear take a toll on your back. For example, the discs in your back, which serve as a cushion between your vertebrae, lose fluid and become less flexible with age. And back-bothering ailments such as arthritis occur more commonly in older adults. 

Some of the most common causes of age-related back pain include:

• Arthritis
• Bone loss related to osteoporosis
• Disc problems
• Long periods of sitting
• Muscle and ligament strains
• Obesity
• Poor posture
• Radiculopathy (compression or inflammation of nerves)
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spaces in the spine)

Relieving age-related back pain

Sometimes back pain goes away on its own. But when it doesn’t, treatment can provide the relief you need to get back on track.

If you’re experiencing back pain, Dr. Manocha works with you to pinpoint the cause of your pain. He uses diagnostic tools such as X-rays, ultrasound, nerve blocks, and joint injections to help determine the source of your back pain.  

Once he knows why you’re feeling pain, he creates a customized plan that may include treatments such as physical therapy, injections, medication, spinal cord stimulation, or surgery.

You may also benefit from alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, tai chi, yoga, or certain supplements. And lifestyle changes may also help relieve or prevent back pain. These include quitting smoking, becoming more active, strength training, and addressing postural issues.

Get help for your back pain

Don’t let back pain prevent you from living a full, active life as you age. To learn about treatment options for your back pain, call us at one of our offices in Worthington or Newark, Ohio, or request an appointment on our website.