I am 65 years old and have back pain. Should I be worried? Yes, 5 to 10 percent of back pain in seniors over 65 can be a serious problem. In other words, back pain is either acute or chronic. The treatment of back pain for the elderly in Shiraz should be taken very seriously because it can affect not only the daily life of the elderly but also the lives of those around them.

Acute back pain lasts less than three months and chronic pain lasts between 3 and 6 months. Back pain in the elderly that lasts for more than a week should be investigated.

What are the causes of back pain in the elderly?

Discogenic back pain: disc bulge, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease

Inflammatory problems: discitis, facet joint arthritis, osteomyelitis (bone infection)

osteoporosis : Vertebral body fracture (compression fracture), facet joint, spinous and transverse process

Cancer and metastasis : Primary breast, lung and prostate cancer

Injuries : Whiplash after a car accident or work or fall may cause the following:

• Fracture of vertebrae, facet joint, blade or lamina, transverse process or Spiny
• Tears and sprains of ligaments
• Tears and sprains of muscles
• Dislocation of the facet joint or vertebrae

Syndrome Back surgery failure : Pain may continue after back surgery due to:

• Recurrent disc herniation
• Surgical injuries to the joint Fast
• Fast joint - joint hypermobility, joint instability
• Muscle conditioning
• Fibrotic scar tissue around the nerve, ligaments

Surrounding muscles and joints: mechanical or musculoskeletal problems

• Sprains of ligaments and muscles
• Rupture of ligaments, membrane Synovial
• Muscle Spasm
• Disc Abnormalities - Herniation, Degenerative Disc Disease, Disc Fracture
• Dislocation, Fracture and Wear and Tear
• Endometriosis, Kidney Disease, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Muscle Pain

How common is back pain among the elderly?

Most cases of back pain (98%) among patients aged 18 to 85 years are non-specific and self-limiting. Back pain in Shiraz is a common complaint among the elderly. Research has shown that up to 85% of people with back pain problems, despite a complete medical examination, did not show any specific reason for the pain. Back pain is the second most common problem after upper respiratory tract infection, and it is also the second most common pain after headache.

Radical or systemic pain may be associated with back pain in elderly patients, and 80% of patients eventually recover with or without surgery.

Which common diseases cause back pain in the elderly?

Facet joint disease caused by arthritis and

Severe burning that causes leg pain may be secondary to disc hernia, osteophyte, subluxation (displaced) vertebrae and degenerative disc disease.

Serious problems that cause nerve pain are rare. These problems include epidural hematoma, epidural abscess, metastases of primary vertebral cancer, and secondary lumbar vertebral fractures, which are complications of osteoporosis.

When should elderly people in Shiraz consider their back pain as an emergency? href="https://doctoreshghi.com/%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%be%d8%af%db%8c-%d8%af%d8%b1-%d8%b4%db%8c%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%b2/">back orthopedic specialist in Shiraz

Anesthesia and Weakness may be a symptom of spinal stenosis. Symptoms such as persistent numbness, weakness in the leg are signs of serious pressure on the nerve and require immediate medical attention.

Pain with occasional tingling and numbness that lasts for a short time is due to nerve compression, but further investigation is needed to evaluate the cause of the pain and treatment options.

Read more:

If you live in Shiraz and as one of the elderly in the community, you have chronic and annoying back pain, consult your doctor first. After initial clinical evaluations, further investigations should be done.

Diseases such as Degenerative disc Epidural hematoma and epidural abscess are diseases that can be resolved without any complications if treated early. So you may be referred to a neurologist or an orthopedic surgeon in Shiraz.

Who should be consulted for back surgery?

The surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon. In fact, back surgery is one of the subspecialties of orthopedics and neurosurgery.

Very important point: The last option to treat back problems and any type of back pain should be surgery, and before that you should have tried all possible solutions with your specialist doctor. Benign back pain may not require any of the following treatments except non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Non-invasive treatment options for seniors with back pain in Shiraz include:

• Non-opioid drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (Tylenol, Motrin, Naproxen)
• Anti-depressants and anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Epilepsy

Manual treatments include:

• Massage therapy
• Hot water therapy
• Yoga
• Kariopractic manipulation
• Acupuncture

Surgical treatment for back pain depends on the cause of the pain, including:

• Discectomy to remove one or more discs
• Vertebral fusion: Using A bone or metal that attaches or joins two or more vertebrae together
• Removal of an abscess or hematoma
• Removal of a tumor mass
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Intraspinal catheter and pump to provide intraspinal pain medication
• Removal of a benign or malignant cancerous tumor

Read more: Diagnosis and treatment of back pain in Shiraz

How can an elderly person prevent further deterioration or recurrence of back pain?

When you have a good posture in the following situations:

• Sit in the right place and have good back support
• Car seat should support the back and put a small pillow behind the back
• Use a suitable mattress when sleeping that is firm be
• be careful when lifting heavy objects. In this case, keep your back straight, sit and lift the device with knee support. keep your head up Keep the object close to the body and do not bend. By tightening the abdominal muscles, your back will be in balance.
• Yoga strengthens back and lower back muscles on a daily basis
• If your back pain continues for more than a few days, see a doctor. Early diagnosis and medical interventions prevent complications.

If the back pain continues for more than a few weeks, is accompanied by numbness in the legs, muscle weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or abnormal weight loss, you should see a doctor immediately.

Yes, Stretching and strengthening exercises such as walking, yoga, and physical therapy exercises can reduce pain and improve spinal flexibility. Of course, it is better to do exercises under the supervision of a specialist.

Yes, consuming foods rich in calcium, vitamin D and omega 3 such as fish, dairy products, green leafy vegetables and brains can help strengthen bones and reduce inflammation in the body.

Back pain in the elderly is a common but treatable problem. There are many methods from physiotherapy and exercise to drug therapy and surgery to reduce pain and improve the quality of life of the elderly in Shiraz.

If you or one of the elderly around you suffers from back pain, you can visit the clinic of Dr. Zohra Eshghi, a specialist in orthopedics, physical medicine, and rehabilitation in Shiraz.

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