Is Back Pain Normal As You Age?

Back pain — particularly low back pain — is a common complaint that affects about 80% of the population during their lifetime. But whether you’re dealing with the occasional twinge or a more persistent issue, back discomfort is something you don’t have to live with. Let’s break down the reasons you may be hurting, because your back definitely deserves some TLC.

See our team at Twin Creeks Orthopedics & Sports Injury Clinic in Allen, Texas, at the first sign of severe or ongoing back discomfort. 

Why back pain may appear

Aging is a risk factor for back pain, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal to struggle with this sometimes-crippling discomfort. Determining the root cause allows your orthopedic specialist to create a treatment that provides relief. Back pain risk factors include:

• Aging
• Muscle or ligament strains
• Poor posture
• Sports, work, car accident, or fall injuries
• Whiplash
• Disc herniation
• Spinal stenosis
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Osteoporosis 
• Improper lifting techniques
• Prolonged sitting
• Lack of exercise
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Excess body weight
• Depression, anxiety, or stress
• Smoking
• Wear-and-tear

Adopting healthy habits and proper physical training lessen the risk of back discomfort, but it can’t always be avoided entirely without treatment — especially as we age.

Is back pain a normal part of aging?

While it’s extremely common, back pain is NOT considered a normal part of aging and isn't something you have to live with. While mild back discomfort might resolve on its own over time, ongoing or debilitating discomfort warrants a visit with Alex Bulan, PA-C to establish its root cause and the best ways to eliminate it once and for all.

Ways to eliminate chronic back pain

Eliminating back pain may consist of one or more of the following solutions:

Healthy lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes that help ease back discomfort include staying physically active, using effective lifting techniques, maintaining an ideal weight, eating nutritious foods, using good posture, and managing any underlying medical concerns. It’s also important to avoid smoking.

Home remedies

Remedies you can try at home include ice or heat packs, gentle stretching, rest, and bracing. 

Physical therapy 

Physical therapy uses stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce painful pressure placed on nerves, strengthen your core, and improve posture and mobility to lessen back discomfort and prevent future occurrences.

Medications

Your specialist might suggest muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medicines, oral pain relievers, topical pain reducers, antidepressants, or other medicines to diminish back discomfort.

Injections

Corticosteroids and nerve blocks are examples of injections that help reduce inflammation and ongoing pain in your back. 

Integrative therapies

Chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, massage, osteopathic manipulation, and yoga therapy are integrative treatments that help ease back discomfort naturally. 

Regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine uses cells sourced from your bone marrow, blood, or donated cells from a lab to speed up new tissue generation and enhance natural healing.  Our clinic offers platelet-rich plasma injections, exosome injections, and prolotherapy.

Electrical nerve stimulation  

In the form of electric cell signaling therapy, nerve stimulation uses electrical currents to ease back discomfort by blocking pain signals from reaching your brain. 

Medical procedures

If you experience back pain that doesn’t subside after conservative treatments, medical procedures often help. Examples include radiofrequency ablation, an implanted nerve stimulator, and surgery.

Don’t let back pain hinder your quality of life when highly effective pain-reducing options are within reach at Twin Creeks Orthopedics & Sports Injury Clinic. Call us today at 469-342-3383 or visit us online to schedule an evaluation.