Is Back Pain A Normal Part Of Aging?

Back pain tends to be much more common in older adults, and this makes sense for a number of reasons. Older adults have put decades of stress on their bodies and have experienced some degree of degeneration that comes with the aging process, but does that mean that back pain should be expected when you’re in your golden years? In today’s blog, we explore whether or not back pain should be considered a normal part of aging.

Is Back Pain Normal With Age?

Back pain tends to be much more common in older populations for the reasons we mentioned in the introduction. Your body has endured years of stress and strain, and all that wear and tear will eventually add up. Your spinal discs may lose a little height and your spine may be a bit weaker than when you were younger, but that doesn’t mean that back pain is a normal part of getting older.

We tell all our patients that although you’re more likely to experience spinal issues as you get older, back pain is never normal. It’s not something you should just grit your teeth and accept as you age. If you assume that back pain is to be expected as you get older, there’s a good chance that you won’t try to treat it in the most effective way. Although it’s more common as you age, it’s not normal, and you need to do something about it.

Knowing that spine pain is never normal is key because this can allow individuals to seek out care and treatment at a much earlier stage. Although it’s not as serious as a condition like cancer, spine issues oftentimes function in a similar manner, in that the sooner the condition is identified and treated, the more likely it is that treatment will be effective. The longer you wait to start care, the further the condition may progress, and by then it may be too late to address the problem with only conservative treatments.

Again, back pain should not be considered a normal part of getting older, but some spinal conditions that tend to disproportionately affect older adults include:

Whatever is causing your discomfort, know that Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute want to be a resource for you. Whether that involves diagnosing and identifying a specific issue or developing an individualized treatment plan, we’ll be with you every step of the way until you’ve made the strongest recovery possible. Don’t let back pain slow you down at any stage of life. Fight back and regain control of your independence and quality of life.

For more information on how you can work to overcome age-related spinal issues, pick up the phone and contact Dr. Sinicropi’s office today at (651) 430-3800.

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