Chronic pain is an issue that affects millions of Americans each year, and it can affect everyone in different ways. One factor that can impact how a chronic pain impacts a person is their age. But how does chronic pain affect different groups based on their age, and what can that tell us about the best ways to treat it? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog on chronic pain between different age groups.
Chronic Pain And Your Age
Recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided to take a closer look at the prevalence of chronic pain among different age groups. Although chronic pain affects children, the data only looked at chronic pain in individuals over the age of 18. Researchers not only looked at the prevalence of chronic pain, which is categorized as having pain “most days” or “every day” over the last three months, but also whether or not the pain was considered “high impact,” in that it prevented people from doing certain work or lifestyle activities.
Overall, 20.4 percent of American adults say they’re living with chronic pain, with 7.4 percent saying their pain is high impact. Here’s a look at how each age group fared:
18-29 – Of the groups polled, this is the group that is least affected by chronic pain, with 8.5 percent of responders saying they have chronic pain, and 2.2 percent saying it’s strong enough to limit their daily activities. This group does not have as much wear and tear on their body, which means they are at a lower risk for chronic pain compared to older groups, but those with chronic pain face the added challenge of “invisible” pain, as others their age my not be able to empathize with their situation as easily.
30-44 – There is a noticable uptick in chronic pain in this age group, with 14.6 percent of respondents experiencing chronic pain, and a two-fold increase in the amount with high impact chronic pain (4.4 percent). Chronic pain in this group tends to be the result of a physical injury that never correctly or fully healed, or worsened by an unaddressed psychological issue, like anxiety or depression.
45-64 – Once you hit this age range, you’re actually above average for chronic pain onset compared to the average person, as 25.8 percent of respondents in this group said they experience chronic pain on a regular basis, above the 20.4 percent average among adults. Of those with chronic pain, 10.3 percent have high impact chronic pain. Treatment is important for all groups, but it’s especially important to work to find solutions if you develop chronic pain at this age range because you have a better chance of successfully treating it as opposed to letting it linger until you’re in the final group.
65 and up – This is the group with the highest rate of chronic pain, with 30.8 percent in this demographic experiencing some sort of chronic pain, with 11.8 percent saying it affects their daily activities. Chronic pain can be especially isolating at this age, and treatment isn’t always easy, but patients can fight back by connecting with a pain management specialist and trying certain activities like physical therapy, yoga or swimming to help develop muscles and stay active.
If you’re dealing with chronic pain, no matter your age, it’s important to sync up with a specialist to work to calm or alleviate symptoms. In the greater Twin Cities area, we hope you’ll connect with Dr. Cohn! Give his office a call today at (952) 738-4580.