Annapolis is a desirable place to live for all generations and ages, but particularly for 55+ active adults who form a significant population of the city’s slow lifestyle. Pain is a common symptom among the elderly and not a very pleasant sensation as it causes suffering and can be very traumatic.
While short-term pain disappears with a short course of treatment, chronic pain lingers until the cause is accurately diagnosed, and the symptoms are treated. Annapolis pain management clinics have designated specialists to identify your pain’s root cause and offer the most suitable treatment to eliminate it.
Why do you Feel Pain?
Unless you experience pain, it is difficult to identify the underlying reason for it. Pain is the body’s defense mechanism, and when it is activated, the nociceptors (nerves) determine tissue damage, and the information is conveyed to the brain via the spinal cord. That is why we feel the pain a split-second after the action that caused it occurs (like touching something hot).
Almost a decade ago (2011), research indicated that the estimated cost of pain in the United States by way of medical treatment costs and lost wages was a stunning $560 to $635 billion if not treated promptly.
Pain is of two types, acute and chronic. While acute pain is very intense but does not last long, it disappears when the injury causing the pain is treated. However, chronic pain lasts longer, with a cure often being very elusive. While chronic pain can range from mild to severe, it may be continuous or intermittent.
Most people get used to the pain and start living with it rather than seek recourse; such ignorance of chronic pain may cause irreparable damage. In Annapolis, a pain management clinic is not difficult to find. Hence, book a consultation at one where an expert will take care of the rest.
Common Pain Conditions
Herniated Disc
As we grow old, there is consistent wear and tear in the disc, known as disc herniation. Aging may also cause the spinal disc’s tissues to lose moisture, causing them to become less flexible and prone to tearing or rupturing. Annapolis is in line with the national trend and has an aging population, with the change in trend for 85+ seniors showing a sharp 67.02% increase since 1980.
It’s not just age; obesity also aggravates a herniated disc as the additional weight puts extra pressure on the discs. Similarly, suppose you are in a physically demanding job at the US naval academy in Annapolis or manufacturing industries, which involves lifting heavy objects all day, bending, and pushing while you shift can cause a herniated disc.
To an extent, the herniated disc is also an inherited condition. Treatment includes pain medicines like cortisone, corticosteroids to suppress the inflammation, muscle relaxants, physical therapy, and surgical intervention in some severe cases.
If you notice persistent arm or leg pain, it could mean a herniated disc in the lower back, and intense pain in the buttocks, thigh, and calf is due to the same. A herniated disc in the neck causes severe pain in the shoulder and arm. It is advisable to seek treatment early as there is a fair chance to avoid surgery.
Spinal Stenosis
It is a group of conditions causing a narrowing of the spinal canal at the spinal cord’s location. A bulging disc or an overgrowth of the facet joints, acute arthritis, or a herniated disc can cause spinal stenosis.
Accidents causing vertebrae fracture can cause spinal stenosis. The pain radiates from the lower back to the legs and thighs, often limiting your activity. It takes a combo of epidural steroid injections, cortisone injections, and physical therapy to treat the symptoms. Surgical intervention may be required in rare cases. There are services or websites available where you can do a search for mild procedure doctors in New York City or other locations.
Knee Pain
It is prevalent in the elderly, which is a form of joint pain aggravated by degenerative joint disease, often caused by a joint cartilage breakdown. Annapolis has a vast elderly population, with around 13% of the population aged 65 years and above.
The pain may also occur in any joint in the body. Knee pain is treated with an exercise regimen, weight loss program, or other interventional procedures, including steroid injections, facet joint injections, genicular nerve block, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and Hyaluronic Acid injections. Unless knee pain is diagnosed and treated promptly, it curtails mobility and restricts a person’s movements.
Osteoarthritis
It is a degenerative joint disease caused by a breakdown of joint cartilage. The common areas it affects include the knee and hip joints, which are the primary weight-bearing joints, though it can affect any joint in the body. Weight loss programs and an exercise regimen are the best treatment options, and some severe cases warrant steroid injections, facet joint injections, genicular nerve block, NSAIDs, and other medications.
Summing it Up
Maryland has found the promising treatment of a potent injection to alleviate knee pain and osteoarthritis – some common pain conditions that are prevalent in Annapolis. Pain is a signal that something is wrong in the area it originates, and the right diagnosis can reveal the causes and proper line of treatment.
