Back pain is both very common and very annoying. Lower back pain in particular is one of the most common reasons for people to seek medical help. This is partly due to how frequently it occurs, and also due to how much it can frustrate so many of the basic daily tasks we take for granted.
There are many physical changes that come with aging. People often experience a loss of muscle mass, reduced flexibility, reduced reaction time, and many other undesirable side effects of getting older. Unfortunately, these changes can often lead to an inability to perform many basic tasks that younger folks take for granted, and these changes can often lead to a loss of independence.
Many of us have had someone in our lives who has experienced balance problems as they aged. In fact, it’s easy to think of balance problems as a regular and expected part of aging, something that we all just have to learn to live with. Eventually, we all may feel a bit unsteady when walking and find ourselves occasionally reaching for a wall or piece of furniture for some extra stability.
Many people spend at least 8-10 hours a day sitting, whether it’s in a car during a long commute, at a desk during a day of work, or on a couch enjoying a movie. Most of us realize that extended periods of sitting can lead to back pain, but it’s less well-known that prolonged sitting can affect nearly every system in the body.
We ask a lot of our shoulders, and for that reason shoulder pain is very common. Maybe you reached a little too high for something overhead. Maybe you lifted something a little awkwardly. Maybe you just slept on it wrong. A little dull ache or discomfort in a shoulder is something most of us have had to deal with at one point or another.
Anyone who has spent time outside on a hot summer day in Florida knows how oppressive the heat and humidity can be. Trying to do a little yard work, playing a pickleball game, or even making a leisurely visit to a theme park can be a completely different experience than it is during cooler months.
Modern surgery is one of the greatest examples of human ingenuity and innovation. The preparations, procedures, and recovery times for many operations have improved immensely in recent years. While these advances are great for people who need surgery, the downside is that surgery often seems like a quick and easy fix for persistent pain. The truth is that for many common orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions,
Most of us have had the experience of “pushing through” pain or “walking it off”. Minor aches and pains are fairly common, especially as our bodies age. Nobody wants to treat a little pain like it’s a medical emergency. Are you going to take time off work for a doctor’s appointment? How much are you willing to sacrifice to deal with something that is likely minor and temporary?
Many of us have probably heard someone with chronic joint pain mention how they can feel the weather changing. They may say they can “feel the rain coming”. It’s true that many people often associate sore joints with cold, rainy weather. These same people may think that warm weather can make sore joints feel better.
Rest seems like the best way to react to pain. Tweaked your back? Rest it. Pulled a muscle? Rest it. This is the advice we’ve heard all our lives, and it’s true. Rest is an important part of recovery, but like any other good thing, there is such a thing as too much. Yes, too much rest can actually slow your recovery.
