Is Pain Inevitable As We Age?

If you’re of a certain age and dealing with a few aches and strains, you may feel it is part of the ageing process. As such, you might feel that it is just something you have to live with. As specialists in providing pain relief in Auckland, we will always do our best to manage that pain. But how much do you have to endure as the years go by?

As you age, it is perfectly natural to experience some discomfort from the physical wear and tear that nearly everyone experiences. For example, the cartilage cushioning your joints will invariably deteriorate over time, while the discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine lose water and become thinner as you age. Suppleness and flexibility will also be reduced as the years go by. That’s life! It is all to be expected, but thankfully, it is something we can help you to control to a great degree.

When left untreated though, maybe because you feel it’s just “one of those things” that comes with age, discomfort can become chronic pain. This will worsen over time, although it is too unpredictable to know to what degree this will happen. What we do know is that most chronic pain results in a loss of function in the spine, joints or extremities, and that issue is compounded when it leads to reduced activity.

When you feel chronic pain in areas like your arms, legs, back or neck, then you might go into protection mode by not using them or not moving as much as you used to. When this happens, then a loss of function in the affected joints, muscles, and surrounding structures, is pretty much inevitable. Over a period of time, this lack of use and activity will lead to reduced blood supply to the area, which can cause arthritis. At this point, the pain and discomfort you’re feeling will only increase.

On the other hand, by being more active you’ll restore circulation which will help you move your joints with less pain. Increasing your activity level is something you should do gradually over a period of time through a supervised programme. We can put such a programme in place for you. While we’re not promising a miracle cure of all that pains you, we can help you manage it so that you’ll feel much more comfortable. So, don’t live with pain. You don’t have to, regardless of your age. Contact us and we’ll keep you moving and feeling good.