Back pain When you age, your back hurts more and more

Many older people suffer from back pain
In the course of life, the spine is exposed to considerable stress, which may be accompanied by degenerative changes and corresponding back pain in old age. In a public lecture series physicians of the University Hospital Leipzig (UKL) inform about the degenerative processes, their causes and possible countermeasures.

"Life leaves its mark, this also affects our spine", emphasize the Leipzig physicians. In advanced age, therefore, back pain is a very common condition. In the public lecture series, Professor dr. Christoph-Eckhard Heyde, Head of Spine Surgery at the UKL, on the degenerative changes of the spine, their different forms and therapeutic countermeasures.

Many older people suffer from back pain due to degenerative changes of the spine. (Image: WavebreakMediaMicro / fotolia.com)

Pain due to degenerative changes
According to Professor Heyde, with increasing age, signs of wear and degenerative changes on the backbone are more pronounced, "which can trigger very painful processes." In addition, the bone disease osteoporosis also plays a major role in many elderly patients. The onset of the complaints can vary individually and "in some, it starts at 40, in others only 60 - depending on genetic predisposition and how much one is burdened with everyday life," Heyde explains.

Important questions about back pain
The specialist explained in his presentation, according to the UKL "central issues around back pain due to wear and osteoporosis, such as: Where are the causes? When do I have to go to the doctor? Which possibilities of prevention and therapy are there? "Heyde will also explain how the symptoms in everyday life can be counteracted and what influence sport and nutrition have. The public lecture series "Medicine for everyone" should explain the current developments in the field of medicine vividly and understandably, so the announcement of the UKL. (Fp)