Back pain is one of the biggest factors when it comes to chronic pain. It is estimated that the global number of people that suffer from chronic back pain is around 540 million. This is a staggeringly large number, and it’s one that points to a deep need for help for those that are suffering from this pain.
Unfortunately, the number is expected to grow substantially over the coming years. By the year 2050, it’s believed that about 800 million people around the globe will be living with chronic back pain.
This is a very disturbing number, especially when you see what the long term consequences of back pain can be. It’s a leading cause of disability in seniors. It also is tied to things like opioid misuse, substance abuse, and poor mental health.
But like many other aspects of care, identifying the problem is essential if steps are going to be taken to fight it. 2050 is still over two decades away; there is time to take steps to reduce the severity of the issue and to find better treatment methods for those that are suffering.
Treating chronic pain is difficult. It often takes a multi-pronged approach to treatment. Unfortunately, past methods have not always been effective. Sometimes, those dealing with pain end up being given treatment methods that aren’t as helpful as they should be. Real improvement in how pain is treated needs to continue.
This research came from the University of Sydney. They arrived at their conclusion by looking at current trends, demographic projections, and other data points. It’s not a foregone conclusion that this will happen, but it is a possibility if current trends prevail. We should take this as a warning–one that doesn’t necessarily need to come true.
Chronic back pain is something that I can speak to personally. I have had back pain for over a decade, and have only recently found relief through therapy, chiropractors, and exercise. My pain is likely the result of several sports injuries that I neglected in my teens and twenties. It has been a long and painful battle, and it’s one that I am still fighting. I’ve dealt with chronic migraines, depression, and limited mobility as a result of the pain. I’ve been very lucky, though. I understand that my battle has been much easier than it is for the typical individual that fights chronic back pain.
When an older adult suffers from chronic back pain, the road to recovery is not as simple. As a general rule, older adults tend to take longer to recover from injury and illness than younger folk do. Chronic pain is a lot harder to treat in older folks for this reason–and because the pain has typically been around for a lot longer. The longer the pain has been present, the harder it can be to get to the root causes of it.
A strong, trustworthy team should be part of your family’s approach to helping a loved one with chronic pain. If you’d like to talk more about this, we’re happy to have a conversation. And if you believe that we could be a part of your team, we’d be honored to help. Give us a call to schedule your free consultation session.
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