Pain Management for Seniors

It’s no secret that as we get older we’re more likely to be affected by pain, but savvy seniors have realized they don’t have to live with pain. They’ve found that they can be active and healthy well into their golden years—with just a little help.

Causes of Pain

Before you can treat pain, of course, you need to understand its causes. Some common causes of pain in older adults include:

Osteoarthritis—The aging process notoriously takes a toll on joints. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, occurs when the cartilage in the joints wears down. There’s no cure, but treatments can slow the progression and ease the pain. Many older adults find that staying active is key to keeping arthritis pain at bay.

Joint and muscle injuries—As we get older, bones become more brittle and muscles more rigid. This opens seniors up to an increased risk for acute injuries such as sprains, strains and more.

Back injuries—An increased risk for the bone-thinning disease, osteoporosis, leads to higher chances for compression fractures in the spine. Plus, with aging muscles and bones, the spine is vulnerable to painful conditions like degenerative disk disease and spinal stenosis.

Disease-related pain—For seniors who are coping with diabetes, cancer or other conditions, these diseases (or even their treatments) can also bring pain.

Seniors and Medications

As more seniors come to recognize they don’t have to live with pain, they are seeking out treatments. Medications, whether over the counter (OTC) or prescription, can seem like an obvious choice, but they can also be tricky.

Here’s why: With age, the liver has a harder time breaking down certain medications, and because the kidneys become smaller, the body doesn’t remove drugs from our system as quickly as it did when we were younger. Changes in stomach acid levels can also affect the absorption of some medications. This means that doctors and pharmacists must pay particularly close attention to the dosages that they prescribe.

Because of their increased rates of health problems, older adults are also more likely to be on multiple medications—and the more medications you add to the mix, the greater the risk of dangerous drug interactions. And seniors already have a higher risk than younger adults of side effects from drugs, including painkillers.

More Therapies to Treat Pain

The good news for seniors—and for HME providers—is that medications are not the only answer. Plus, most physicians will insist that a patient try as many conservative treatments as possible before choosing to undergo surgery, which is a last resort—especially for older adults.

Alternative therapies—Many seniors have found that complementary therapies like massage and acupuncture can relieve pain.

Assistive devices—For severe pain, canes and walkers can help provide relief during movement.

TENS units—A TENS unit, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, is designed to block pain receptors. It is often used to reduce muscle pain temporarily.

Ultrasound—This technology uses high-frequency sound waves to stimulate the body’s deep tissue to relieve pain and increase blood flow temporarily.

LaserTouchOne™—This product is the only FDA cleared, over-the-counter, handheld pain relief device on the market that combines low-level laser therapy (aka, cold laser) and microcurrent electrical stimulation. The laser light is absorbed by cells and stimulates healing and rapid pain relief, while the electrical microcurrent stimulates the body’s ability to naturally repair and heal itself. This device is designed to treat the source of the pain, not just the symptoms. The LaserTouchOne is often used in conjunction with other therapies such as massage and physical therapy.

Opportunities for HME Providers

For HME providers, the opportunity is clear: For seniors suffering with pain, surgery is a last resort, and potentially habit-forming medications pose clear dangers. Natural remedies are on an upward trend as more consumers seek nonpharmaceutical, noninvasive treatments.

More seniors than ever are eager to enjoy their golden years. They want to be active and healthy, but pain can sideline them from the activities they love. Americans spend more than $200 billion per year on treatments, products and procedures to relieve pain and seniors are among those lining up for relief.

HME providers have the opportunity to sell an active lifestyle by providing home-based products that don’t have the same side effects and dangers as medications or surgery. Savvy seniors are looking for pain relief, and savvy HME providers have the right tools to help them find relief and enjoy their lives.