Advanced age increases the risk of health complications which can lead to chronic pain. Unlike grey hairs and wrinkles, chronic pain is NOT part of the normal aging process. Chronic pain is described as pain lasting 3 months or longer.
The following conditions often result in chronic pain:
- Arthritis
- Neuropathy, spontaneous or a diabetes side effect
- Cancer, as well as its treatment
- Bone Fractures
Chronic pain disrupts the quality of life for many elderly. The resulting distress can lead to sleep deprivation, depression, and anxiety. It's a vicious circle: without proper sleep, the body reacts with even more pain.
How we can help
EMA Care case managers are equipped to create a plan to address the patient's pain. It's important to formulate realistic short and long-term goals and how to achieve those goals. We can achieve this by a comprehensive intake of your health history, understanding medication being taken, having the medical knowledge and experience to know what works best to relieve the patient.EMA Care also has extensive experience in working with pain specialists prescribing medical marijuana. The use of medical marijuana has been quite successful in alleviating chronic pain.
A key component to relieving chronic pain in the elderly is follow-up. EMA Care will be there for the patient, ensuring the patient and the healthcare team are coming through with the necessary steps needed to get relief.