Why Is Back Pain So Common After 40?

Worldwide, 23% of adults have chronic low back pain, and about 80% of US adults experience back pain at some point.

These numbers are astounding, especially when most people with back pain are over 40. Why? The spine goes through age-related changes like every other part of the body, often leading to chronic conditions and discomfort.

If you're tired of living with back pain, Dr. Steven J. Svabek in Coral Springs, Florida, provides conservative treatments and spine surgery to alleviate back pain for good. He also offers the iFuse implant system® for SI joint dysfunction and persistent lower back pain.

What happens to the back with age?

When we're young, our bones are strong and the intervertebral discs are healthy and absorb shocks to the spine.

But as we age, natural degeneration of the spine and tissues occurs, causing pain and other issues. Some degeneration is typical, but certain lifestyle factors may contribute to more intense degeneration of the vertebrae and discs.

Injuries from your younger years may lead to issues as you age, especially to the soft tissues or discs.

Common back problems after 40

After 40, most people have some form of spinal degeneration and pain. Not everyone experiences back pain at that age, but you're more likely to notice a change in spinal mobility and flexibility.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) and spinal stenosis are back conditions that are prevalent after 40. DDD happens when the spongy intervertebral discs lose height and cushioning, resulting in less shock absorption and back pain.

Spinal stenosis refers to the gradual narrowing of the spinal column. It can lead to nerve impingement and muscle spasms, causing chronic low or mid-back pain.

Osteoarthritis develops over time due to years of wear-and-tear on the spine. It leads to stiffness, pain, and decreased function in the spine. The intervertebral discs also weaken, causing pain with motion.

Osteoporosis also comes with age, affecting post-menopausal women especially, causing the bones to become brittle. Brittle bones can fracture, leading to pain, loss of height, and decreased range of motion.

Age-related muscle and tendon changes weaken the lower back and increase the potential for injury.

How can you alleviate back pain?

Keeping your core strong while you're young and taking care of your spine are good ways to prevent age-related back changes.

If you're at risk of back pain, stay active, especially with low-impact exercises like swimming or biking. Stretching and core exercises also benefit low back health and wellness. Use ice and heat to ease tricky back pain and make time for rest.

Losing weight takes stress off the spine, which can help with age-related back discomfort. An anti-inflammatory, healthy diet allows you to maintain a healthy weight and alleviate back pain.

When lifestyle changes don't address your back pain, professional treatments can. We offer physical therapy, steroid injections, and more invasive treatments to eliminate difficult-to-treat back discomfort.

To learn more about our back pain treatments, call the office of Steven J Svabek, DO, PA, today to schedule a consultation, or request an appointment online.