Useful Ideas to Help Your Elders with Back Pain
Individuals over 60 years old are more likely to suffer from pain related to joint degenerate on in the spine. Lower back pain is the most common kind since it is caused by several problems with any parts of the complex network of the spinal muscles, bones, nerves, discs, and tendons. These causes can come from poor posture, smoking, being overweight, spinal diseases, poor eating habits and other health conditions such as cancer, and aging.
The ache comes from the shrinking of the disks between the vertebrae that should have been jelly-like centers to absorb shock and prevent our bones from rubbing against each other. However, because of the aforementioned factors, the disks wear away, shrink and the stiffness of the bones rubbing against each other results in pain.
Better Living Home Care Agency, a trusted provider of senior home care in Simpson Park Road Weir Mississippi, believes that the pain can be treated in several ways once the cause of your back pain is determined.
Mainly, back pain can be treated in three major ways—the medications, therapeutic treatments, and surgery. The most common medications for back relief include:
- Acetaminophen or aspirin
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen and ibuprofen
- Steroids (intravenous or oral medication)
- Narcotics (i.e. morphine and codeine)
Surgery options:
Disk replacement
Spinal fusion
Therapeutic treatments can vary according to your doctor’s approval. There are also many different actions that you can take to help alleviate your back pain or prevent it from getting worse. Changing a few daily habits can aid you to sustain a healthy, pain-free back for a long time.
- Sleep with a pillow under your knee
Sleeping on your back puts all the pressure on your spine. With a help of a pillow, your legs will be elevated putting relief that cut the pressure in half! - Increase calcium and vitamin D intake
We all know how calcium can help prevent osteoporosis. Particularly for women, it is one of the most causes of back pain later in life. By consuming plenty of calcium and Vitamin D, it can keep your bones in the spine strong too.
You can find calcium in yogurt, vitamin supplements, leafy greens, and milk. As for Vitamin D, you can find it in egg yolks, fatty fish, cheese, and beef liver. But always consult your doctor before eating them and taking any supplements.
- Do stretching
Sitting, lying down, or standing in one place for an extended amount of time is not healthy for your back. Try to walk around, get up, and do some simple stretches. It can ease any strains and aches and can help improve blood circulation to your back. - Put out that cigarette
Smoking is dangerous to your health. It is no surprise that you would find this advice here as it is to other health blogs. One reason is that nicotine, which is present in cigars, restricts blood flow to the disks in the spine and reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. So if you want to stop the pain in the back, cut it.
Get your elders a quality of assistance at home especially in managing or preventing back pain! Call Better Living Home Care Agency today! We are the #1 source of the finest senior home care in Simpson Park Road Weir Mississippi!