What causes back pain in older adults?
Mostly age-related changes in the discs and joints, sometimes with narrowing of the spinal canal, and occasionally bone problems.
- Degenerative disc disease: discs dry out and thin with age. Most people have some disc degeneration after 40, though not everyone has pain (Cleveland Clinic).
- Facet joint arthritis: wear in the small joints at the back of the spine.
- Spinal stenosis: narrowing that usually develops with age and arthritis (MedlinePlus).
- Osteoporosis: thin bones that can lead to painful fractures of the vertebrae (NIAMS).
Which safety checks come first?
Bone strength, recent falls or fractures, blood-vessel problems and cancer history, because each can change what's safe.
Before any stretching treatment, an older adult's history matters more than ever. These are reasons decompression is usually not recommended, from the guidelines Springville Disc Center publishes:
- Moderate to severe osteoporosis
- A recent spinal fracture, including a compression fracture
- An aortic aneurysm, including a repaired one
- Cancer that has spread to bone, or cancer in the pelvis or abdomen
- Metal hardware in the spine, or a fusion in the last 6 months
- Severe peripheral neuropathy
Bring your medication list and any recent bone-density results to the consultation. See who should not have spinal decompression for why each matters.
Stenosis or disc: how can I tell?
Stenosis leg pain tends to build with walking or standing and ease when you sit or bend forward; disc pain often does the opposite.
| Spinal stenosis | Disc-related pain | |
|---|---|---|
| Worse with | Walking, standing upright | Sitting, bending forward |
| Better with | Sitting, leaning forward (like on a shopping cart) | Walking, lying down |
| Legs | Heaviness, cramping or numbness in one or both | Usually one leg, along a nerve |
| Decompression | Cautious, case-by-case | May be considered after exam |
Why does my MRI look so bad when the pain is only moderate?
Because age-related changes show up on almost everyone's MRI, painful or not.
MedlinePlus notes that an MRI picks up changes that happen with aging, even ones that aren't causing your pain, and that those findings can lead to worry and treatment you don't need. A good review matches the report to your symptoms and exam. See how to read your MRI report.
What helps besides decompression?
Regular activity and exercise have the best evidence for long-lasting back pain at any age.
A Cochrane review found exercise probably reduces pain in chronic low back pain. Walking, water exercise, and guided strengthening are common choices; ask your doctor what's safe for your bones and heart. Physical therapy, medications that are safe with your other prescriptions, and heat can also help.
What about cost and Medicare?
Medicare covers manual spinal adjustment by a chiropractor for a subluxation, and not other chiropractic services.
That's the rule Medicare.gov states, so decompression may not be covered. The office will explain fees before you commit. More detail: Medicare and spinal decompression.
Dr. Gordon Stapel, DC has been in practice since 1993. Call (801) 491-8688 or request a free consultation below.
Questions from older adults
Is spinal decompression safe for older adults?
Is back pain normal as you get older?
Does Medicare pay for spinal decompression?
Why does my MRI show so many problems?
What if walking makes my legs hurt?
Ask about back pain after 60
Prefer to talk now? Call (801) 491-8688. Or send this short form and the office will call you back during business hours, usually within 2 business days.
Sources
This website is operated for Stapel Family Chiropractic (Springville Disc Center) in Springville, Utah. Care is provided by Dr. Gordon Stapel, DC, a licensed chiropractic physician. About this site.