Continuing from yesterday’s post that talked about the six golden rules of dealing with pain…
Let’s look at the kind of pain you can expect as you grow – um….older 🙂 when you are in your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond.
This one is for you – if you are in your 30’s
In Your 30s
Pain problem: Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common types of pain experienced by people in their thirties. Although headaches can plague people throughout their lives, they seem to be more common in midlife.
Studies have shown that migraines, which are two to three times more common in women than in men, tend to peak between ages 35-45. Tension-type headaches – the most common type of headache – feature constant (rather than throbbing) pain and pressure, and may increase with age.
The fix: Seek solutions.
The cause of many headaches is unknown, which can make treatment tricky. So if one treatment hasn’t worked, persist and try another. Work with someone you trust to get a diagnosis because there are treatments for each of these headache conditions- but don’t expect instant reward.
If you get migraines, identify your migraine triggers. Many people are sensitive to lights, foods, wines, or cheese. Sometimes not eating regularly or caffeine withdrawal can be the trigger.
Acupuncture and mind/body techniques, such as yoga, mindfulness stress reduction and relaxation training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be helpful for headaches, as well as for chronic pain of any kind.
Pain problem: Straining the Body
In your 30s, you may start paying – in pain – if you push yourself physically the way you did when you were younger. Overuse syndromes such as muscle pain and tendonitis – an inflammation of the tendons, which attach bone to muscle – are also common during the 30s. Lower back pain may start for some people at this age, along with problems with the rotator cuff (shoulder) and tennis elbow in the late 30s and early 40s.
The bottom line: Your margin of error is shrinking. You’re less likely to get away with repetitive motions done with bad joint alignment.
The fix: Get your body in sync.
You must learn the proper way to use your body that takes full advantage of how the body is designed. That means being mindful of things like using your legs when you lift to avoid putting pressure on your back and avoiding working with your arms above your head, which puts too much pressure on your neck and shoulders.
Pay attention to how you use your body during hobbies, cooking, driving, and other daily activities. By changing the tools you use, the way you sit at your desk – anything that can pull your body out of proper alignment – you will protect yourself from future injury and pain.
Tomorrow is for those in their 40’s and 50’s
