Nearly everyone has or will suffer from low back pain (LBP) at some point in time. What about the elderly population? Let's discuss back pain due to the wear and tear that almost invariably comes with age.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the wear and tear on our joints, particularly the smooth covering of cartilage located on the surfaces of all moving joints. That wearing can eventually progress to bone-on-bone contact, where little to no movement is left in the joint. Bone spurs can also occur from excess wear and tear. OA is not diagnosed by a blood or lab test, but rather by an accurate history, physical examination and ultimately, an X-ray.

When the low back is affected by OA, it may not even hurt. In some cases, there may be a significant amount of OA on an x-ray and that patient may not have pain. The opposite can occur, and some patients with very little arthritis can have severe pain. OA in and of itself does not always generate pain. This is why the history, exam, and response to treatment (chiropractic adjustments, exercise, and possibly some lifestyle changes in diet and activity) are more important than the amount of arthritis found on the X-rays.

There are a number of conditions associated with OA that affect the spine and respond well to chiropractic treatment. Degenerative disk disease (DDD) is one of those conditions. The normal anatomy of the intervertebral disk (IVD) consists of a thick, tough outer layer of cartilage and a central nucleus that allows the disc to function like a shock absorber. As we age, the water content gradually decreases and the shock absorbing quality is lost.

As chiropractors, we address OA and DDD with a number of highly effective treatments, including spinal adjustments. Exercising the joint with mobilization reduces the tightness and stiffness associated with OA and DDD.

Ultimately, we are all likely to get OA sooner or later. It's usually a slow, gradual process that may slowly change our activity level. Ironically, the best advice we can give to the patient with OA is to keep moving. Exercise is important and can give the patient a way of controlling this condition on their own. Diet, activity modification, and periodic adjustments can also help immensely.

For more information, contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.