Comfort Keepers Home Caregivers of Lancaster, CA: Seniors and Dealing with Pain

Does your senior loved one suffer from chronic pain or just a few aches? Comfort Keepers Home Caregivers offer the following pieces of advice to make sure your senior loved one is pain-free! 

Pain is an uncomfortable feeling that people of all ages including senior citizens experience. It can make everyday life a challenge and prevent older adults from making the most out of their golden years. 

Aches like a stomachache, toothache, and headache are linked to a particular part of the body,  aren’t very strong, and typically fade within a short time frame. Chronic pain, however, is more serious and persists for a minimum of six months. Some seniors suffer from chronic pain for years because of a certain health condition. Our home caregivers list some of the most common health conditions that cause chronic pain:

• Arthritis: Arthritis is a joint disorder that leads to symptoms like pain stiffness, and inflammation. It can interfere with basic tasks and lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental conditions.
• Fibromyalgia: A chronic condition that causes widespread muscle pain and fatigue is known as fibromyalgia. 
• Migraine: An intense headache that often comes with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound is called a migraine and felt on one or both sides of the head.
• Back Pain: Back pain in seniors is usually the result of wear and tear and conditions like osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. 
• Neck Pain: Arthritis, trauma, tumors, and infections can all cause neck pain in older adults.

While chronic pain can’t be cured, it can be controlled through a wide array of treatments. Our home caregivers encourage older adults who are suffering from pain should visit their doctor to determine which treatment option is ideal for their specific situation. Here is a brief overview of some of the most common treatments for pain:

• Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers like Motrin and Advil, topical pain relievers like Icy Hot, and prescription pain relievers such as opioids, corticosteroids, and antidepressants are all medications that may alleviate an older adult’s pain.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A type of psychotherapy that focuses on how a senior’s thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes affect their feelings and behavior is known as cognitive behavioral therapy. It can teach older adults who are living with pain how to cope effectively.
• Relaxation Techniques: Home caregivers say that relaxation techniques can assist seniors in dealing with stresses that contribute to their pain. Deep breathing, exercises like yoga, tai-chi, and Pilates, and progressive muscle relaxation can all help.

Additionally, lifestyle changes like working out regularly to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, eating healthier by avoiding sodium, sweets, and saturated fats, and sleeping for at least 8 hours each evening can all improve an older adult’s pain.