Older adults frequently experience neck pain and back pain, with a variety of anatomical, pathological, and physiological factors involved in the development of symptoms. Arthritis is a common cause of neck pain in seniors attributed to the spine itself, as are discogenic disorders, trauma, tumours, and infection. Other issues involve the muscles in the neck, or nervous system function. Below, we outline some key causes of neck pain, because knowing its origins is essential to getting appropriate treatments and, where possible, for preventing pain recurring.
Muscular Causes of Neck Pain
The muscles in the neck may trigger pain in cases of myofascial pain syndrome, torticollis or fibromyalgia, as well as after accidents resulting in whiplash. Seniors may be more at risk of musculoskeletal problems due to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and loss of muscle, increased frequency of falls and slower healing time, and also from conditions like diabetes which are more common with age.
Medications and Neck Pain
Seniors are also more likely to be taking medications that can have adverse effects on long-term bone health, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as having a lifetime of accumulated wear and tear that predispose them to neck pain. Osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and calcification of connective tissue may be factors in neck pain in seniors, as can systemic inflammation that leads to pinched nerves in the neck.
Additionally, many post-menopausal women experience problems with thyroid health that can go undetected for years and this can lead to swelling of the thyroid gland, putting pressure on other structures in the neck. Older people are also more likely to become dehydrated, leading to a sore throat and neck pain.
Treating Neck Pain in Seniors
As you can see, there is quite a variety of possible causes of neck pain in seniors, which can make it very difficult to figure out how to manage neck pain effectively in this patient demographic.