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AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Pain: You Can

Get Help

Phyllis loves playing with her grandchildren, 

working in the garden, and going to bingo 

games twice a week. But, at age 76, the constant 

knee pain she feels from osteoarthritis (a joint 

disease) is taking a toll. It keeps her awake at 

night and stops her from doing activities she 

enjoys. The pain’s getting to be too much to 

handle, making Phyllis feel depressed, but she 

doesn’t know what she can do about it.

You’ve probably been in pain at one time 

or another. Maybe you’ve had a headache 

or bruise—pain that doesn’t last too long. 

But, many older people have ongoing pain 

from health problems like arthritis, cancer, 

diabetes, or shingles. They may even have 

many different kinds of pain.

Pain can be your body’s way of warning 

you that something is wrong. Always tell the 

doctor where you hurt and exactly how it feels.

Acute Pain and Chronic Pain

There are two kinds of pain. Acute 

pain begins suddenly, lasts for a short 

time, and goes away as your body heals. 

You might feel acute pain after surgery or 

if you have a broken bone, infected tooth, 

or kidney stone.

Pain that lasts for several months 

or years is called chronic (or persistent) pain. 

This pain often affects older people. 

Examples include rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 

and sciatica. In some cases, chronic pain 

follows after acute pain from an injury 

or other health issue has gone away, like 

postherpetic neuralgia after shingles.

Living with any type of pain can 

be very hard. It can cause many other 

problems. For instance, pain can:

F Get in the way of your daily activities

F Disturb your sleep and eating habits

F Make it difficult to continue working

F Cause depression or anxiety

Describing Pain

Many people have a hard time 

describing pain. Think about these questions 

when you explain how the pain feels:

F Where does it hurt?

F When did it start? Does the pain come 

and go?

F What does it feel like? Is the pain sharp,

 dull, or burning? Would you use some 

other word to describe it?

F Do you have other symptoms?

F When do you feel the pain? In the 

morning? In the evening? After eating? 

F Is there anything you do that makes 

the pain feel better or worse? For example, 
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does using a heating pad or ice pack help? 

Does changing your position from lying 

down to sitting up make it better? Have you 

tried any over-the-counter medications for it?

Your doctor or nurse may ask you to 

rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 

being no pain and 10 being the worst pain 

you can imagine. Or, your doctor may ask if 

the pain is mild, moderate, or severe. Some 

doctors or nurses have pictures of faces that 

show different expressions of pain. You 

point to the face that shows how you feel.

Attitudes About Pain

Everyone reacts to pain differently. 

Many older people have been told not to 

talk about their aches and pains. Some 

people feel they should be brave and not 

complain when they hurt. Other people 

are quick to report pain and ask for help.

Worrying about pain is a common 

problem. This worry can make you afraid 

to stay active, and it can separate you from 

your friends and family. Working with 

your doctor, you can find ways to continue 

to take part in physical and social activities 

despite being in pain. 

Some people put off going to the 

doctor because they think pain is just part 

of aging and nothing can help. This is 

not true! It is important to see a doctor 

if you have a new pain. Finding a way to 

manage your pain is often easier if it is 

addressed early.

Treating Pain

Treating, or managing, chronic pain 

is important. The good news is that there 

are ways to care for pain. Some treatments 

involve medications, and some do not. 

Your doctor may make a treatment plan 

that is specific for your needs. 

Most treatment plans do not just focus 

on reducing pain. They also include ways to 

support daily function while living with pain. 

Pain doesn’t always go away overnight. 

Talk with your doctor about how long it 

may take before you feel better. Often, 

you have to stick with a treatment plan 

before you get relief. It’s important to stay 

on a schedule. Sometimes this is called 

“staying ahead” or “keeping on top” of 

your pain. As your pain lessens, you can 

likely become more active and will see 

your mood lift and sleep improve.

Medicines to Treat Pain

Your doctor may prescribe one or 

more of the following pain medications:

F Acetaminophen may help all types 

of pain, especially mild to moderate 

pain. Acetaminophen is found in overthe-counter and prescription medicines. 

People who drink a lot of alcohol or 

who have liver disease should not take 

acetaminophen. Be sure to talk with your 

doctor about whether it is safe for you to 

take and what would be the right dose.
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F Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 

(NSAIDs) include medications like aspirin, 

naproxen, and ibuprofen. Some types of 

NSAIDs can cause side effects, like internal 

bleeding, which make them unsafe for 

many older adults. For instance, you may 

not be able to take ibuprofen if you have 

high blood pressure or had a stroke. Talk to 

your doctor before taking NSAIDs to see if 

they are safe for you.

F Narcotics (also called opioids) are 

used for severe pain and require a doctor’s 

prescription. They may be habit-forming. 

Examples of narcotics are codeine, 

morphine, and oxycodone.

F Other medications are sometimes used 

to treat pain. These include antidepressants, 

anticonvulsive medicines, local painkillers 

like nerve blocks or patches, and ointments 

and creams.

As people age, they are at risk for 

developing more serious side effects from 

medication. It’s important to take exactly 

the amount of pain medicine your doctor 

prescribes. 

Mixing any pain medication with alcohol

or other drugs, such as tranquilizers, can be 

dangerous. Make sure your doctor knows 

all the medicines you take, including overthe-counter drugs and herbal supplements, 

as well as the amount of alcohol you drink.

Remember: If you think the medicine is 

not working, don’t change it on your own. 

Talk to your doctor or nurse. You might

say, “I’ve been taking the medication as 

you directed, but it still hurts too much 

to play with my grandchildren. Is there 

anything else I can try?”

What Other Treatments Help 

With Pain?

In addition to drugs, there are a 

variety of complementary and alternative 

approaches that may provide relief. Talk 

to your doctor about these treatments. 

It may take both medicine and other 

treatments to feel better.

F Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles 

to stimulate specific points on the body to 

relieve pain.

F Biofeedback helps you learn to control 

your heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle 

tension. This may help reduce your pain 

and stress level.

F Cognitive behavioral therapy is a 

form of short-term counseling that may 

help reduce your reaction to pain.

Pain Specialist

Some doctors receive extra training in 

pain management. If you find that your 

regular doctor can’t help you, ask him 

or her for the name of a pain medicine 

specialist. You also can ask for suggestions 

from friends and family, a nearby hospital, 

or your local medical society.
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F Distraction can help you cope with 

pain by learning new skills that may take 

your mind off your discomfort.

F Electrical nerve stimulation uses 

electrical impulses in order to relieve pain.

F Guided imagery uses directed 

thoughts to create mental pictures that 

may help you relax, manage anxiety, 

sleep better, and have less pain.

F Hypnosis uses focused attention to 

help manage pain.

F Massage therapy can release tension 

in tight muscles.

F Physical therapy uses a variety of 

techniques to help manage everyday 

activities with less pain and teaches you 

ways to improve flexibility and strength.

Helping Yourself

There are things you can do yourself 

that might help you feel better. Try to:

F Keep a healthy weight. Putting on 

extra pounds can slow healing and make 

some pain worse. Keeping a healthy 

weight might help with knee pain, or 

pain in the back, hips, or feet. 

F Be active. Try to keep moving. Pain 

might make you inactive, which can 

lead to a cycle of more pain and loss of 

function. Mild activity can help.

F Get enough sleep. It will improve 

healing and your mood.

F Avoid tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol. 

They can get in the way of your treatment 

and increase your pain.

F Join a pain support group. Sometimes, 

it can help to talk to other people about how 

they deal with pain. You can share your ideas 

and thoughts while learning from others.

F Participate in activities you enjoy. Taking 

part in activities that you find relaxing, like 

listening to music or doing art, might help 

take your mind off of some of the pain. 

Cancer Pain 

Some people with cancer are more 

afraid of the pain than of the cancer. But,

most pain from cancer or cancer treatments 

can be controlled. As with all pain, it’s 

best to start managing cancer pain early. 

It might take a while to find the best 

approach. Talk with your doctor so the 

pain management plan can be corrected 

to work for you.

One special concern in managing cancer 

pain is “breakthrough pain.” This is a pain 

that comes on quickly and can take you by 

surprise. It can be very upsetting. After one 

attack, many people worry it will happen 

again. This is another reason why it is so 

important to talk with your doctor about 

having a pain management plan in place.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Pain

People who have Alzheimer’s disease 

may not be able to tell you when they’re 

in pain. When you’re caring for someone 

with Alzheimer’s disease, watch for clues. 

A person’s face may show signs of being in 
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pain or feeling ill. You may also notice 

sudden changes in behavior such as

increased yelling, striking out, or spending 

more time in bed. It’s important to find 

out if there is something wrong. If you’re 

not sure what to do, call the doctor for help.

Pain at the End of Life

Not everyone who is dying is in pain. 

But if a person has pain at the end of 

life, there are ways to help. Experts often 

believe it’s best to focus on making the 

person comfortable, without worrying about 

possible addiction or drug dependence. 

Speak to a palliative care or pain 

management specialist if you are 

concerned about pain for yourself or a 

loved one. These specialists are trained 

to manage pain and other symptoms for 

people with serious illnesses.

Caring for Someone in Pain

It’s hard to see a loved one hurting. 

Caring for a person in pain can leave 

you feeling tired and discouraged. To 

keep from feeling overwhelmed, you 

might consider asking other family 

members and friends for help. Or, some 

community service organizations might 

offer short-term, or respite, care. The 

Eldercare Locator might help you find a 

local group that offers this service.

Some Facts About Pain

F Most people don’t have to live with pain.

There are pain treatments. While not all pain 

can be cured, most pain can be managed. If 

your doctor has not been able to help you, ask 

to see a pain specialist.

F Most people who properly take doctorprescribed narcotic drugs for pain relief 

do not become addicted. If you take your 

medicine exactly the way your doctor tells 

you, then you are not likely to develop an 

addiction problem. Let your doctor know 

if you have a personal or family history of 

substance abuse.

F The side effects from pain medicine 

usually are not worse than the pain. Side 

effects from pain medicine like constipation, 

dry mouth, and drowsiness may be a 

problem when you first begin taking the 

medicine. These problems can often be 

treated and may go away as your body gets 

used to the medicine.

F Your doctor will not think you’re a 

whiner or a sissy if you talk about your 

pain. If you are in pain, tell your doctor 

so you can get the help you need.

F If you use pain medicine now, it will 

still work when you need it later. Using 

medicine at the first sign of pain may help 

control your pain later.

F Pain is not “all in your head.” No one 

but you knows how your pain feels. If you’re 

in pain, talk with your doctor.
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For More Information About 

Pain and Pain Management

American Chronic Pain Association

1-800-533-3231 (toll-free)

ACPA@theacpa.org (email)

www.theacpa.org

www.theacpa.org/Support-Groups

Eldercare Locator

1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)

www.eldercare.gov

Mayo Clinic

www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms

National Cancer Institute

1-800-422-6237 

(1-800-4-CANCER, toll-free)

cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov (email)

www.cancer.gov

National Center for Complementary 

and Integrative Health

1-888-644-6226 (toll-free)

1-866-464-3615 (TTY/toll-free)

info@nccih.nih.gov (email)

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain 

National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus: Pain

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pain.html

MedlinePlus: Chronic Pain

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chronicpain.html

For more information on health and 

aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging

Information Center

P.O. Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

niaic@nia.nih.gov (email)

www.nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers

www.nia.nih.gov/espanol

To order publications (in English or 

Spanish) or sign up for regular email 

alerts about new publications and other

information from the NIA, go to 

www.nia.nih.gov/health.

Visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov, a seniorfriendly website from the National 

Institute on Aging and the National 

Library of Medicine. This website has 

health and wellness information for 

older adults. Special features make it 

simple to use. For example, you can click 

on a button to make the type larger.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®

May 2015

National Institute

on Aging