Meet Our Physicians Banner Image

Feeling Older with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a condition still being investigated by health professionals and researchers. It can be complicated and different for each person suffering from it. There are several factors that play into the role of chronic pain, with the percentage of each one being different depending on the person. These factors include a person’s outside environment, pain behaviors, suffering, emotions, thoughts, pain sensation and even tissue damage. But can chronic pain make us feel older? Read on for the answer and some recent research that could shed light on this growing health care issue. For help with chronic pain treatment, visit the top pain specialist in Orange County, OC Pain today.

New Research

According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, chronic pain not only makes people feel older but can speed up the aging process by 30 years. This specific study examined patients dealing with long-term neck and back pain. Interestingly, the study revealed that chronic pain patients age 50 to 59 looked like healthy patients who were 20 to 30 years older. As a result, the study also found that these patients functioned as if they were older in four types of physical activities: walking/jogging, climbing the stairs, using their upper extremities and even in doing normal daily activities like eating, getting dressed and bathing.

The study relied on data from more than 18,500 participants age 50 and older who took part in a 2004 Health and Retirement Study. The researchers from the University of California San Francisco found that, “24% of the patients had pain across all four physical abilities, with higher functional limitations present in those patients than in painless subjects, only 9% of patients (age 50 to 59) who suffered from chronic pain were able to jog a mile, in comparison to 37% of patients in the same age group without any pain, and 50% of chronic pain sufferers (age 50 to 59) were able to walk a few blocks without difficulty; however, 91% of same-aged subjects without any pain walked a few blocks without any complications.”

Where Does it Hurt?

Chronic pain impacts many people today but can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. The Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine can help you unlock the mystery of your chronic pain. Use our interactive simulator to find out what might be causing your pain and what your treatment options could be. While not a self-diagnosis tool, this pain simulator could help you determine the cause when you seek professional medical attention.

Chronic pain can be a lifelong struggle for many patients. The first step in dealing with chronic and persistent pain is to get a complete medical exam to determine the cause of your pain. Whatever medical condition you are ultimately diagnosed with, there are several effective strategies for coping with your chronic pain, some involving lifestyle changes, while more serious cases might involve an injection or surgical procedure.

Pain Specialist in Orange County

There are several causes of chronic pain including neck pain, migraines, compression fractures, cancer pain, fibromyalgia, sciatic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disc pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If you aren’t sure what is triggering your chronic pain, a consultation with the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine might be your best option. From the initial comprehensive assessment to long-term follow-up care, the doctors and staff at CRPM develop partnerships with patients and encourage them and their families to take an active role in recovery. When pain is controlled, the overall quality of life will improve physically, emotionally and socially. Meet the team of professionals and discover your treatment options. Don’t spend another day in pain. Schedule your consultation today.