Orthopaedic Problems That The Elderly People Mainly Face

As you age, various health issues start cropping up. One of the major health problems that the elderly people mainly face is the orthopaedic problems. You will find that most of the elderly people face knee problems or shoulder problems. One of the major reasons for the increase in orthopaedic problems is the lack of awareness amongst people. Unless you have the awareness, orthopaedic care will not be possible.

Major orthopaedic problems faced by the elderly people

Some of the major orthopaedic problems faced by the elderly people include the following:

Arthritis: Arthritis is a form of disorder in the joints which can lead to inflammation of one or more joints. It leads to severe joint pain. There are various forms of arthritis that people may face. Some of these include Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, Septic Arthritis, Still's Disease, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, etc. Proper orthopaedic care is required in order to keep arthritis in control. Some of the major symptoms of arthritis include muscle weakness, inability to use hands and legs, poor sleep, tenderness, difficulty in moving hands or legs, etc. If you notice any of these symptoms in your near and dear ones, then take them to a doctor immediately in order to know the right type of treatment.

Elbow pain and problems: Another common orthopaedic ailment common in elderly people is the elbow pain and associated problems. Normally elbow pain and problems are caused due to arthritis, brusitis, fractures and injury and can lead to the formation of tennis elbow. Some of the major symptoms of elbow pain and problems include hand pain, numbness in the hand, numbness in the ring and/or little finger, clumsiness in hand and thumb due to muscle weakness, etc. Many a times, people even face the problems of weak shoulders and wrist muscles. Unless proper orthopaedic care is taken, the pain can become quite problematic to manage.

Foot pain and problems: Foot pain is a common problem in elderly people. There can be various problems which can lead to foot pain. Problem in bones, tendons, nerves, ligaments, fascia, blood vessels, etc. can lead to foot problems. Constant strenuous activities as well as ill-fitting shoes are some of the common reasons of foot pain and problems. You should stop wearing ill-fitted shoes and stop carrying too much of weight in order to avoid foot pain. Apart from this, there are pain killers, physical therapies, surgeries, etc. in order to reduce or stop foot pain.

Lower back pain: This is another common problem in elderly people. The lower back constitutes of various things like tendons and muscles, highly sensitive nerves, nerve roots, small and complex joints,   spinal discs, etc. For proper orthopaedic care, identifying the symptoms and proper diagnosis is quite essential. If the lower back pain is accompanied by chills and fever, then you should immediately contact a doctor.

Apart from these, some other major orthopaedic problems include neck pain, shoulder pain, ligament injuries, Scoliosis, etc. One should be extremely careful while dealing with them. The symptoms should be given importance and proper medication should be taken in this regard.