At some point in life, many people just don’t feel the way they used to. The run that once cleared their head now just makes them uncomfortably aware of their knees. Or they’ve got achy joints that make them feel “old.”
Although it is not uncommon with age to experience new aches, it isn’t normal to be in pain; that’s a sign that something is amiss.
No two pains are alike, and it’s hard to predict what you may feel as you age. But there are certain pains that are more common at certain ages. Here’s a look at the types of pain that sometimes accompany aging – and what to do about it.
6 Golden Rules for Pain
No matter what your age or ailment, heed these guidelines when you feel pain:
- Deal with it head on. “Sucking it up” or denying pain is never a good idea.
- Acute pain – the kind that comes on suddenly — should be treated as quickly as possible to prevent it from becoming a chronic pain condition, which is defined as pain lasting more than three months.
- Check on vitamin D. Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels to make sure you’re not deficient. Vitamin D can be helpful in preventing micro fractures and alleviating pain that stems from fractures associated with osteoporosis.
- Avoid obesity. Extra pounds put tremendous strain on the body, increasing your chances of experiencing chronic joint and lower back pain.
- Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can worsen pain and contribute to muscle tightness and depression. If you aren’t sleeping well, and changes like going to bed earlier and developing good sleep habits don’t help, check with your doctor to see if you have a sleep disorder and find out what can be done to help you get a good night’s rest.
- Watch for depression. Chronic pain is often accompanied by depression, which often goes unrecognized. Depression not only makes it more difficult to deal with physical pain, it magnifies it. If you have chronic pain, tell your doctor how you’re feeling emotionally.
Tomorrow, I’ll post the next part about what to expect in your 30’s and how to deal with it.
Thanks, WebMD
Have a question? Please email me at vidzword at gmail dot com
Stay healthy!
Vidya Sury
5 comments
This was actually helpful. I like the ‘Suck it up’ and Move one – advice! 🙂
It’s my approach – I love it that you dropped by Tanvi…your blog’s one of my top favorites!
There are many types of pain, since it depends on whether the disease is mild pain, severe pain or chronic pain, but agree that the painkillers are for the moment the only ones that help prevent and control pain.
@ pain killers chronic pain = thanks for stopping by. Ultimately, only the doctor can decide the best painkillers to prescribe.
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