Younger people with chronic pain look similar, in terms of their physical disabilities, to people who are two to three decades older without pain, according to a study published in this month’s Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. By comparing functional abilities of adults with regards to mobility (walking, jogging, etc), stair climbing, upper extremity tasks, and activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, etc) it was found that the abilities of those aged 50 to 59 with pain were far more comparable to subjects aged 80 to 89 without pain. This study was the first of its kind to examine the relationship of pain and relative age-related disability. In clinical practice chronic pain is a common complaint with some sufferers not only experiencing functional decline, they can often look physically older due to comorbid deconditioning and malnutrition. [via Medical News Today]
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Not a big surprise! Chronic pain ages a person in many ways. The stress on both body and mind is almost unimaginable. Imagine spending every day trying to figure out how to approach every activity in which you engage in ways that will minimize the pain and fatigue you experience both at the time of the activity and after. Pain causes intense fatigue and debilitating exhaustion. Imagine feeling so exhausted after walking the dog for 5 minutes, taking a 30 minute bus trip, or a going to the grocery store that you are forced to lie down or fall down. I have actually fallen asleep on my feet more times than I can count!
Pain also shows in one’s countenance-particularly in the face and the eyes. After 12 years of living with CRPS I have deep furrows in my forehead that were not there before I became ill. I walk with a limp and have developed severe back pain from walking with an abnormal gait for 12 years. I had carpal tunnel surgery; ulnar nerve surgery an implanted port for IV medication and any # of hospital visits and admissions due to complications from my “treatment” and the disease. How could anyone think that this level of morbidity and disability would NOT age a person prematurely?
I am 58 years old and I often FEEL 75-80. It is hardly a surprise that I look it, too.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:21 am
I am 42 and have had 10 knee surgeries on both left and right knees. I must admit that weight training and a diet high in lean protein with fruits and veggies is a key factor in maintaining your momentum. As if you complain and do nothing to improve you condition your condition will surely destroy you over time. The key is to make the surrounding muscles in the affected area or joint stronger through exercise and diet. Though your diet is in my opinion more the 50 percent of the battle. If you exercises and do not eat properly this will produce a lower effect. Stay off the pain medications as they will destroy your body over time and just make your condition worse over time. A confident and sure headed approach to you problem with a reasonable goals is the best way to go. God Bless America and do not be a negative person. Move forward to improver your life and be strong minded this will be your best defense in life and with your health improvement.
September 18th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I am happy for you,James, that your regimen works..FOR YOU. However, for me who has scoliosis with a 44 degree curve in my lower back, life without pain meds would surely be no life at all. I see my Pain Specialist once a month-he monitors my pain, takes X-rays, gives me an injection, and prescribes my medications according to his findings. I am not an abuser of the drugs, and watch my tolerance, always mindful of the dangers and warning signs attributed to these narcotics. He and I have been a team for over 12 years now – with his input and constant monitoring, my life has quality and purpose. These are the words of a very positive person.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I am 64, maybe not old enough. But I happen to value pain – it is something that needs to be paid attention to. Without it, most serious mistakes will be made. I correct the CAUSE, not the warning.
I never take any aspirin and rarely any drug of any kind. I usually refuse drugs perscribed by doctors. Having worked in 20 countries I learned that medical procedures in the United States is among the worst in the world. We use far too much drugs! I would rather have pain than addictions to sugar and hundreds of other things most of us eat. If I ate the junk food most Americans do, I would have never survived three injuries.
For the last one, I am back to excellent health after a broken head and seven weeks coma. OK, under coma I felt no pain, but a lot of physical therapy fixed a few other broken things, and I never complain when something hurts if I know the reason.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Steven Chang’s article on pain management and aging. I am 61 and have been saying that I feel like a 95 yr. old for the past 10+ years. Have had PMR(polymylgia rheumatica); CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome); FMS (fibromylgia) since I was 41 in 1989. My rheumatologist put me on BAD, BAD “old Prednisone” for over the past 20 years. In which time I have gained an additional 75 to 90 lbs. over that time…had worked full time as an Exec. Secretary to VP from ‘89 to 2005…now on SSI disability…I think I need to see a pain specialist…I can’t move, or exercise…how can I stop the domino factor of just getting more illness like type II diabetes due to all the weight gained? Now more issues. Gave up smoking using Chantix 2 yrs. ago, which is great, but now “hooked on ambien”..and sleep late til 11 or after 1 p.m. then can hardly function through the rest of the day with my “fibro fog” (where I really feel like I have dementia). I’ve lost most of my three best friends this past 5 yrs. by them dying at age 55 from cervical cancer (known over 23 years); then my bestest friend from teens knew over 45 years and were still in touch daily and weekly to see and phone…she got stomach cancer and mesothelioma of stomach…watched her take her last breath in nursing home on 5/31/07. Then just lost my other bestest buddy from 1972 on October 18, 2008 from dementia (alzheimers–4th stage….went in under a year….quickly)…it was horrible to watch a young woman age 62 looked 40, then in 3 months she looked bunched over and couldn’t communicate (her best asset was talking and laughing)…she looked 100.
What do we do? I want to go swimming and try to move my body a little, which is fading fast, but my diabetes meds are not cooperating…I’m having to find a bathroom right after mostly every meal no matter what I eat….we keep changing, I keep “going”….and I am not losing weight…still want carbs due to Prednisone….HELP me….need a drink or two!!!!!
September 18th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Susan,
I know where you’re coming from. I also have fibromyalgia. I’m 54 and feel 74. I can’t exercise because I’m so exhausted. Also hooked on Ambien. Sleep is the only break I get. Two of my best friends died much too young last year. I wish I could say something cheery and hopeful, but this disease has kicked my butt!
September 19th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I am a 42 year old single mother of 2 girls 7 and 8. I have suffered from chronic back pain for 15 + years, have been dealing with migraines and fibromyalgia since I was 36. The fibro pain is now affecting me daily and all over. I used to only have the pain maybe two days a week and maybe only in my arm or leg, but over the last year it has become unmanageable. I find it hard to do anything and if I should be lucky to have an hour or two where the pain is not as bad, if I do any kind of work, then I pay for it for the next 3 days worst than if I had not done anything. I struggle with memory and concentration issues — clutter is the worst and any type of paper work really is hard to do. I don’t know if I am dependent on my sleeping pills, but I need them to help me get to sleep and sad to admit, but look forward to sleeping since it is the only time I am free of the pain. I would love to find a better way to manage so that I can begin being the mother my girls need and deserve. I completely believe how I look and how old I feel is in direct relation to the chronic pain I have been suffering with over the years. My desire to do right by my girls and my faith in God’s plan for me is the only thing that helps me make it through another day full of pain and feeling so tired.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I am 23 year old male and i am suffering from some chronic testicle pain in which no one can give me any answers. Ive seen specialists, had MRIs, ultra sounds, Urologists and no one has any idea what i have. Monthly i have severe testicle pains, swelling in which my left testicle raises. No medication helps, doctors have ruled out any kind of STD, and i am at my breaking point. I just need to know if any one out there suffers from this and can give me any kind of hope? When i have an attack, i wake up sometime between 2-4AM and can barely move from the pain. Please any kind of info or suggestions might help me live my life.