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Back Pain & Mortality In Older Women

Dec 07, 2022

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE A WOMAN OVER 65

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lower back pain “is the second most common cause of disability in US adults.” The scientific journal Neurologic Clinics estimates that “15% to 20% of adults have back pain during a single year and 50% to 80% experience at least one episode of back pain during a lifetime.” They also note that low back pain affects everyone “from adolescents to the elderly, and is a major cause of disability in the adult working population.” With something so common, it’s easy to underestimate the risks. But this can be fatal if you’re a woman over the age of 65.

A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine reports that “back pain increases the risk for death among older women by 24 percent.” What’s also troubling is that the researchers aren’t sure why. They merely theorize that the pain may prevent exercise and cause weight gain, which can lead to a host of “chronic health conditions, and ultimately earlier death.”

Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce, if not prevent, most kinds of back pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, “if prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics often will heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional.”

Whether your back pain requires professional intervention or can be successfully treated at home, seeking an evaluation is essential and will not only result in a quicker recovery, but potentially a longer life if you’re a woman over 65. So, when should you call a doctor?

The Mayo Clinic urges anyone experiencing back pain to contact a physician if the pain lasts more than a few weeks, doesn't get better after resting, spreads to your legs, results in weight loss, or “causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one or both legs.” But what kind of expert should you reach out to?

U.S. News recently covered the dizzying options available to those in pain. “Depending on the cause of your back pain, you might end up seeing any one of a variety of specialists.” Their list included "primary care physicians, physiatrists, pain management specialists, sports medicine doctors and spine surgeons.” It seems the best option is to find a clinic that offers a variety of treatments and takes a multidisciplinary approach to your pain. At Coastal Pain & Neurology Centers, that’s precisely what we do. With a range of minimally invasive treatments and technologies, our experts will diagnose and manage your pain to help you not only regain your quality of life, but make sure you don’t face the increased mortality rates that back pain causes in women over the age of 65. So if you’re in pain, don’t wait. Schedule an expert assessment now.  

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