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Is Back Pain Normal as You Age?

Princeton Pain and Spine Institute Blog Is Back Pain Normal as You Age?

Body aches and pains are a natural part of growing older. But back pain doesn’t have to keep you from living life to its fullest.

At Princeton Pain and Spine Institute, Dr.  Dinash Yanamadula offers a wide range of medical services that ensure patients can safeguard their health and live without back pain. If you’re growing older and are plagued by chronic back pain, here’s a look at what Dr. Yanamadula can do for you.

What causes back pain?

Back pain is a common feature of older age. Here are the mostly likely conditions can cause back pain as you age.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis in the facet joints in your lower back is a common cause of back pain as you get older. These joints, located at the back of your spine, allow a range of motion. When arthritis strikes, the cartilage that facilitates easy movement breaks down and allows bones to rub together, causing pain and inflammation.

Degenerative disc disease

Your spine, comprising 33 vertebrae separated by 23 discs, makes up the framework of your back. Spinal discs, which provide critical cushioning and facilitate movement, contain a jelly-like substance surrounded by a tough exterior made up of collagen fibers. As you age, collagen begins to lose moisture, causing discs to thin and wear down, which can lead to herniation or bulging. 

Spinal stenosis

Stenosis, which forms over many years, is a gradual narrowing of your spinal canal. At first, this narrowing isn’t a problem. But as it progresses, nerves along your spine can become pinched or compressed.

Osteoporosis

Men and women lose bone density as they age, although women experience a more dramatic drop in bone density as they go through menopause. When bones lose strength, the vertebrae can begin to collapse, creating compression fractures.

Reducing pain

So, is back pain an inevitable result of growing older? We don’t believe that any pain is normal and inevitable. We offer several effective treatments that can provide relief from back pain. These treatments include:

In most cases, we start with conservative treatments, like physical therapy, to see if they make you pain-free. We only use more aggressive treatments, like nerve blocks, if your back pain persists. 

No matter how old you are, you don’t have to live with chronic back pain. To make an appointment at the Princeton Pain and Spine Institute, call 609-308-3589, or use our online scheduling tool. 

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