Studies show that adults who experience chronic pain and chronic back pain may be at increased risk for falls which is a serious, oftentimes deadly problem for people of older age. Dismally, chronic pain and chronic back pain is a usual companion of people of older age.
From the Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of researchers reported on a new trial that followed more than 700 patients over the age 70 who were living in Boston. The patients, who had medical examination before they started in the clinical study, kept a record with dates and any pain they experienced and how it affected their daily lifestyle.
In general the new study last for around 18 months. After a year and a half, the team of researchers noticed that individuals who said they felt pain in two or more joints in one month were 50% more likely to fall in the following month than patients who did not report joint pain. Certainly, back pain was not associated with all injuries from falls. Basically, the added risk for patients with multiple joint pain persisted after the group of researchers collected data for various components such as a existing medical history of injury due to falls, use of drugs, any conditions, or any balance concerns.
Research studies show that the study’s findings mean chronic pain and chronic back pain should not be just dismissed all the time. Clearly, based on the study’s results that chronic pain and chronic back pain should be taken more seriously, especially in patients of older age.
Keep in mind that it may not be merely simple aches or pains; it might actually be a condition that places a adult at greater risk for falls, which may lead to hospitalization and presumably further injury. Moreover, if we can control chronic pain and chronic back pain, will individuals have fewer falls? Undoubtedly, if a individual has chronic pain and chronic back pain, they should discuss it health care professional to make sure the pain is controlled adequately and appropriately.
For this reason and many others, the president of the American Geriatrics Society said that the study should remind individuals that chronic pain and chronic back pain is normally an under-recognized and under-treated problem.
Thus, this study aids us to understand that pain in a patient’s daily lifestyle affects more than only them being hurt. Ultimately, the most important message is we should not ignore chronic pain and chronic back pain in older people.
