Pain management can be a problem for aging bodies. With the current focus on removing opioids as a go-to solution, doctors are working hard to provide alternatives for their patients.
Denis Patterson, D.O., is a Board Certified Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation physician. He is also the founder and owner of Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in Reno, Nevada.
I’ve had questions for some time about what doctors suggest for pain management of aging bodies, regardless of whether the pain stems from old injuries or a current issue such as severe arthritis. So I asked Dr. Patterson if he would be willing to provide us with information from the perspective of a specialist. He did so in this email interview.
HealthCentral:Dr. Patterson, what are your top tips for keeping aging bodies moving well and as pain-free as possible?
Dr. Patterson:Life expectancy continues to increase in the United States. It is predicted that in 2050, Americans ages 65 or older will number nearly 89 million people. This is double the number of older adults in the United States in 2010.
One of the greatest fears of aging is “having pain.” The chances of developing a chronic pain issue increases with each decade of life. Pain causes negative life consequences, such as a decrease in mobility and independence, which ultimately lead to a poor quality of life.
For my aging patients, I recommend the following to help them keep moving and live as pain-free as possible:
健康饮食是高抗氧化剂。抗氧化剂保护人体免受所谓的自由基的有害分子。自由基引起炎症，可以引起疼痛。的食物，富含抗氧化剂的例子是蓝莓，果仁，深绿色蔬菜，茶叶，豆类和鱼类。
Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight leads to added stress on our bodies, particularly our joints.
Get plenty of sleep. Typically, seven to nine hours a night is needed for healthy adults to function at their best. Research has shown that proper sleep leads to better health, less pain, better moods, better weight control, better memory, and a stronger immune system.
继续走。我建议他们参与日常低影响，光有氧运动计划。
HC:What is the best type of exercise for people who may have joint problems, so that they can avoid exacerbating existing problem areas?
Dr. P:The best exercise for people with joint problems is to develop a low-impact, light-aerobic exercise program.
Low-impact exercises mean that one foot stays in contact with the ground at all times. Types of low-impact exercises include walking, cycling, elliptical machines, swimming, and water aerobics.
Light aerobic exercises are when you achieve 60 percent of your maximum heart rate or a pace that allows you to talk and sing easily while working out.
对于严重关节炎的关节，等长收缩练习应该做的。这是一种类型的力量训练，其中所述肌肉长度或关节角度不收缩期间改变。
HC:这是现在常见的知识阿片类药物应避免用于缓解疼痛只要有可能。然而，随着人口老化，越来越多的人从对抗关节炎，背部受伤，腰痛，和其他一般投诉疼痛。有些条件是远远超出了“疼痛”的范畴。你有什么建议为你的病人谁拥有这些问题呢？
Dr. P:Conservative treatment measures that are usually successful with treating painful conditions are modalities (such as ice or heat), medications (acetaminophen or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen), physical therapy, and sometimes injections.
Over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can help relieve pain. One product is not superior to the other, and individual responses will vary. Always take these medicines exactly as prescribed or according to the label. Do not take a nonprescription anti-inflammatory for longer than 10 days without talking to your doctor. If taken too often, or for extended periods of time, these medications can lead to stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and high blood pressure.
HC:什么是最符合成本效益的方式来保持健康，而人的年龄？
Dr. P:慢性健康问题是昂贵的。预防是最经济有效的方式来保持健康，而老化。健康的饮食和日常锻炼的秘密。注意你吃的食物和活动，你每天都在做的量将防止慢性疾病的产生。
HC:Thank you, Dr. Patterson, for your expert information. We know that there are no magic pills that will keep us healthy. You reaffirm, from the perspective of a pain specialist, what we know we should do to keep our bodies as healthy and pain-free as possible as we age. We appreciate your time.
卡罗尔布拉德利Bursack是一位资深的家庭保姆花了超过二十年照顾共有七位长老。她是一个长期的报纸专栏作家和作者自扫门前雪我们的长辈：照顾者分享他们的个人故事as well as a contributor to several additional books on caregiving and dementia. Her websites can be accessed atwww.mindingourelders.com。按照卡罗尔在Twitter@mindingourelderand on FacebookMinding Our Elders。