My Back Hurts Because I’m Getting Older (Excuse Busters, part 2)
This is one I hear all of the time . . . “My lower back stays sore most of the time, but it’s just age. I’m getting old.” Here’s the funny part: I hear this from people in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s!! In my opinion, the only people who have the RIGHT to use this excuse are the ones in their 80’s and 90’s! If you’re 40, your neck isn’t tight because you’re OLD! So STOP IT!! That is not a viable excuse! Or my favorite: “My left hip is sore, and it doesn’t let me take big steps anymore . . . there’s nothing you can do about it, though, doc. I’m just getting old.” I love it when people say this, because I get to be a smart-alec and say “So what you’re telling me is that you left hip is older than your right hip?” If it was because of age, shouldn’t BOTH hips hurt?
In most cases, joints are stiff and painful because of mechanical problems in the musculo-skeletal system!* As a chiropractor, I re-condition the mechanics of the spine and joints, thus reducing the pain and improving function. If you want to go around thinking that you’re just old, that’s your choice. It probably doesn’t have to be that way, though.
* Not all cases of joint pain and stiffness are a result of mechanical problems. I perform a thorough physical examination on each new complaint to rule out other causes such as problems with the heart, kidneys, or gallbladder, aneurysms, and tumors, just to name a few.
