Pain is one of those things that is very difficult to treat, especially in the elderly. There are many issues associated with pain, and trying to treat it effectively can sometimes make things worse off than they were before. However, good news is beginning to emerge in this front. Recent research indicates that pain often improves in veterans as they age. The study looked at veterans age 65 or older that suffered from chronic pain. The study tracked pain scores over the course of 12 months and attempted to track any changes that might occur. Over 13,000 veterans were looked at through a national database.
What they found was that over the course of 12 months, pain in general improved. More than two-thirds of the people that were observed showed sustained improvement. Another key piece of information that emerged during this study was the fact that when opioid treatment emerged, the chances of sustained decreases in pain went down dramatically. Of course, this could be because of the severity of the problems that were being faced, but it also makes a strong case for avoiding opioid pain management whenever possible. Your loved one is an individual with a unique situation though, so be sure that you consult with a doctor and get a professional opinion before you make any sort of decision for the treatment of your loved one.
If this is true of veterans, there is a strong likelihood that it is true of the elder population in general. Yes, veterans have unique circumstances because of their history in the military, but this doesn’t change their basic human physiology. But because the background that veterans come from puts naturally puts them at a higher risk of pain than the general population, this segment of the population is especially helpful to look to when it comes to studying the impact of pain on the elderly.
The other important thing that this study took away was that there were some underlying factors that flew in reversal of the basic premise that pain goes away over the course of time. Opioid usage, certain mental illnesses, and specific diagnoses that could be the root source of the pain made it so that pain wasn’t something that eased up over time.
When you have a loved one suffering pain, keeping them happy and comfortable is going to be one of your highest priorities. If you can’t be there for them all of the time because of your job or because of other important engagements, finding someone that you trust to be there is important. Using a highly reputable in-home care service to assist with the care of your loved one is not only a smart idea, it’s one that has the potential to keep your loved one’s life moving forward as they overcome their pain while you are able to continue with your own life, too. Nobody wants to see their loved one suffer, and finding someone that you trust that is trained to help here is often the best thing you can do.
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