Common causes of pain in older people include: arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) fibromyalgia (a condition characterised by widespread pain and other symptoms) cancer.
Musculoskeletal disorders such as degenerative spine and arthritic conditions are the most common cause of chronic pain in the elderly. Other common causes of significance include neuropathic pain, ischemic pain, and pain due to cancer as well as its treatment [6].
85% of the elderly to suffer from pain. Among the diseases with concurring pain, the first are diseases of the locomotor system and include: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, pain is an intrinsic part of malignant cancer, neuralgia shingles, and diabetic neuropathy.
Aging and disability increases the potential for chronic pain (Molton et al 2014). The common pain sites are knees, hips, and low back often associated with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Females are more likely to develop chronic pain, and it is often associated with obesity (McCarthy et al 2009, Patel et al 2013).
Our findings—that pain is not a natural part of aging and often improves or remains stable over time, stoicism does not lead to acclimation, and pain medications are not highly addictive in older adults—make it clear that the stereotypes we identified are misconceptions of pain in later life.
Pain is highly damaging to the quality of life of the older person, their family, friends and carers, and costly for society as a whole, yet pain is not an inevitable part of ageing.
Under normal physiological conditions, older people may be less sensitive to low levels of stimuli – for example they have a higher pain threshold – but they tend to be more sensitive to higher levels of stimuli – meaning that they have a lower ability to tolerate more severe pain.
Is it normal to have aches and pains with age? Unfortunately, yes. We can expect to experience body aches and pains as we grow older.
A potential mechanism for the increase in pain sensitivity observed with advancing age is age-related increases in systemic inflammation (59,60,61). Chronic inflammation sensitizes peripheral nociceptors, is a factor in central sensitization (62), and activates central stress circuits (51).
According to the research, the average American starts feeling old at the age of 47. Similarly, the average respondent starts to really worry about age-related bodily changes around 50 years old.
Stretching and exercises like yoga and Pilates can help keep your muscles long and limber, and can help when you're feeling sore, too. If your muscles are hurting, try RICE therapy and over-the-counter pain medicine. See your doctor if you're in a lot of pain.
As you age, joint movement becomes stiffer and less flexible because the amount of lubricating fluid inside your joints decreases and the cartilage becomes thinner. Ligaments also tend to shorten and lose some flexibility, making joints feel stiff.
Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.
Your skin turns drier and itchier and may look like crepe paper or tissue. Wrinkles, age spots, creases, and bruises become more noticeable. Your sweat glands also get less active. That means you might not sweat as much, but wounds on your skin may take longer to heal.
Weak legs are a common problem in seniors because we lose muscle mass as we get older. As we age, we tend to become less active, and this causes a reduction in our muscle strength. While some physical conditions can cause leg weakness, chances are, your weak leg muscles are part of the aging process.
Reports of increases in the production of adrenaline-related hormones with ageing have been thought to explain the apparent ability of older men to perform freak feats of strength.
General feelings of fatigue often occur because a senior isn't getting enough oxygen-rich blood circulating throughout the body. Even milder issues like narrowed arteries or slightly prolapsed valves can be enough to cause fatigue.
Muscle stiffness typically occurs after exercise, hard physical work, or lifting weights. You may also feel stiffness after periods of inactivity, like when you get out of bed in the morning or get out of a chair after sitting for a long time. Sprains and strains are the most common reasons for muscle stiffness.
Body aches are a common symptom of many health conditions, including illness and vitamin deficiency. If it lasts more than a few days, is severe, or occurs with other symptoms, it may be a sign of something more serious.
Your Bones, Joints, and Muscles
Your muscles get weaker, and the tendons -- which connect muscles to your skeleton -- get stiffer. This will decrease your strength and flexibility. In your 70s, you might lose an inch or two off your height as disks in your back flatten.
When are we considered old? For women, the old age threshold is about 73; for men, 70.
New study says decline begins in our 50s
Researchers with Duke University's School of Medicine suggest that physical decline begins in the decade of the 50s and worsens as we age, especially for those who don't exercise.
Who is Defined as Elderly? Typically, the elderly has been defined as the chronological age of 65 or older. People from 65 to 74 years old are usually considered early elderly, while those over 75 years old are referred to as late elderly.