Back Pain and Aging

Back pain is extremely common in our society. In fact, almost 80% of
adults in the United States will encounter some form of back pain in
their lifetimes. There are many reasons why so many people experience
back pain, including poor posture, poor body mechanics, overweight,
excessive strain on the spine, smoking, poor diet, as well as spinal
diseases and other health conditions, but the most common cause of
back pain in our country is simply aging. Read on to find out why
aging can be a real pain.

The Spine
The spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae, which
provide support for the body. In between each vertebra is a disc that
gives the spine flexibility and serves as a shock absorber for the
body. Discs are made up of a tire-like outer band (called the annulus
fibrosus) and a gel-like inner substance (called the nucleus
pulposus). Together, the vertebrae and the discs provide a protective
tunnel (called the spinal canal) through which the spinal cord and
spinal nerves pass through.


What happens when we age?
For many of us, several things begin to happen to our spines as we
age. Our vertebrae begin to thicken and our discs start to loose
moisture and shape. As a result, the spinal canal becomes narrower
putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve endings and causing
pain, numbness, or weakness in the body. This condition is called
spinal stenosis. While stenosis can affect people in their 20s and
30s, it is most commonly seen in older patients. Spinal stenosis is a
degenerative condition, meaning the symptoms tend to be progressive,
increasing in severity as the patient ages.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis can occur in all areas of the spine, but occurs most
often in the lumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) areas. Patients
with lumbar spinal stenosis may feel pain, weakness, or numbness in
the legs, calves or buttocks. Symptoms often increase when walking
short distances and decrease when sitting, bending forward, or lying
down. Cervical spinal stenosis has similar symptoms in the shoulders,
arms, and legs, and may also include hand clumsiness and gait and
balance disturbances.

Treatment Options for Spinal Stenosis
The good news is that nearly 90 percent of spinal stenosis cases are
successfully treated without surgery. Non-surgical treatment options
most commonly used for patients with stenosis include the following:

• Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) to reduce swelling and pain, and analgesics to relieve pain.


• Rest or restricted activity (this may vary depending on extent
of nerve involvement).

• Chiropractic Adjustments and physical therapy for stretching and
strengthening exercise to help stabilize the spine, restore mobility,
increase flexibility,decrease pain.

Severe cases of spinal stenosis may require surgery. However, surgery
should not be considered unless several months of non-surgical
treatments have been tried. The most common surgery used to treat
stenosis is called decompressive laminectomy in which the laminae
(bony plates located on the back of the vertebra) are removed to
create more space in the spinal canal.

Don't Ignore Back Pain
With all of the treatment options available today, it's no longer
necessary to accept back pain as a normal part of the aging process.
Back pain, especially if it continues to get worse, includes bowel and
bladder difficulties, or prevents you from participating in your
everyday activities, should not be ignored. Talk to your physician or
Chiropractor. They will help you find a treatment plan that can return
you to your pain-free life once more.

Kind Regards

George Prorellis
Doctor of Chiropractic and Physiotherapy

Kalogrezas 13 and corner of 25th of March
2nd Floor, Kentriki Plateia Halandriou
(Agios Nicholoas Church)

210-684 7871
6945 818 263