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Senior Helpers In Home Health Care of Ann ArborMichigan Talks About the Myths and Facts of Pain inOlder Adults
You have probably heard the clich?: “Old age is not for sissies.” Most of us assume thatas we grow older, we will experience more discomfort, due to arthritis, osteoporosis,and other chronic illnesses. But how much of this assumption is true? Take this quiz tofind out how much you know about this important challenge of successful aging!
(Answers at bottom.)
Myth or Fact?
1.Pain is a normal part of aging.2.It would be great to eliminate all pain!3.Sometimes pain is caused by injury to the nerves themselves.4.Pain can be “all in your head.”5.Medication is the only treatment that can relieve pain.6.Antidepressant medications can be effective in treating pain.7.Because of the danger of addiction, many pain medications should be avoided.8.Older adults are less likely than younger people to ask their healthcare providers for painrelief.9.The recommended dosage of pain medication remains the same as we age.10.To protect the joints, a person with arthritis pain should not exercise.
 Answers to “Myths and Facts About Pain and Older Adults”
1. Pain is a normal part of aging.
Myth. Although older adults are more likely to experience pain, it is not a “symptom” of aging, and should not be considered as inevitable.
2. It would be great to eliminate all pain!
Myth. Pain is a signal to the brain that something threatens the well-being of the body. It is themechanism that warns us of injury or illness. Without it, we could not survive.
3. Sometimes pain is caused by injury to the nerves themselves.
Fact. Sometimes the nerves send “false signals” that something is wrong with a body part or organ. Damage to the nerves, spinal cord, and brain can cause this persistent pain.
4. Pain can be “all in your head.”
Myth…and Fact. While most pain is the result of physical causes, how we think about pain canmake a difference. Stress and anxiety magnify our perception of pain, which leads to more stressand anxiety. But the cycle can be broken through pain control techniques.
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