Women More Likely to Experience Hip, Knee, and Feet Pain

Talking to friends, you probably have heard someone say, perhaps yourself, about their pain. People suffer from pain all over their bodies at some point, but ongoing pain and discomfort become more common as we age.  

Pain in your hips and knees is widespread. The National Institute on Aging reports that chronic pain is caused by a health condition such as arthritis for some people. It may also follow acute pain from an injury, surgery, or other ongoing health condition. 

Key findings from a recent CDC National Health Interview Survey show some painful facts. 

• 39.0% of adults had back pain, 36.5% had lower limb pain, and 30.7% had upper limb pain in the past three months.

• Adults aged 65 and over, women, non-Hispanic white adults, and those with income below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were most likely to experience back pain.

• Adults aged 18–29 (21.0%), men (33.5%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (20.6%), and those with income 200% of FPL or above (35.2%) were least likely to experience lower limb pain.

• Adults aged 65 and over, women, non-Hispanic white adults, and those with income below 100% of FPL were most likely to experience upper limb pain.

Women More Than Men

For centuries, people have believed women are the more sensitive gender. There appears to be some truth in that assumption. Women (39.2%) are more likely to experience pain in their hips, knees, or feet than men (33.5%). 

Recent research shows that women are more sensitive to pain. According to a report published in October's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), women have more nerve receptors, which cause them to feel pain more intensely than men.

According to Bradon Wilhelmi, MD, author of the study, there are real-life implications to how the genders perceive and handle pain.

This study has serious implications about how we treat women after surgery as well as women who experience chronic pain. Because women have more nerve receptors, they may experience pain more powerfully than men, requiring different surgical techniques, treatments, or medicine dosages to help manage their pain and make them feel comfortable.

Dr. Bradon Wilhelmi

Health Related Pain Issues

Living with any pain can be challenging, no matter the cause of the pain. Pain creates a new set of health-related issues. For instance, pain can:

• Get in the way of your daily activities

• Disturb your sleep and eating habits

• Make it difficult to continue working

• Be related to depression or anxiety

• Keep you from spending time with friends and family

Richard W. Rosenquist, MD, Chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Pain Management, says multiple factors play a role in how we experience pain. These factors include genetics, social status, exercise, and information processing in the brain. And for women, hormones, puberty, reproductive status, and menstrual cycle also affect pain threshold and perception.

It's essential to find the source of the pain so that it can be treated effectively. Dr. John Paggioli, a pain specialist and medical director at Eastern Connecticut Pain Treatment Center in Norwich, says there are many treatment options for chronic pain depending on the cause.

While medication can be an important part of a pain management plan, it's not the only thing that can help. There are many other options available, such as physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and interventional techniques which include steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation of sensory nerves to joints and the spine, and spinal cord stimulation often used for failed back surgery syndrome.

Dr. John Paggioli

Pain Can Limit Independence and Mobility

Pain and discomfort can impair a person's ability to perform routine daily activities that we take for granted, especially when we are younger. As a result of pain, a person may also experience mobility problems. It has become a common reason people require long-term health care.

Longer lifespans are contributing to more chronic conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over two-thirds of older Americans suffer from multiple chronic conditions, and long-term health care costs are increasing rapidly.

Research shows that 60% to 75% of people over 65 years of age report having persistent pain, and the prevalence of pain increases with age, with women being more likely than men to report persistent pain.

People with ongoing pain also report higher rates of depression. People with pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free.

Some pain is hard to define and treat, like those who have Fibromyalgia. Many studies link Fibromyalgia and depression. There seems to be a link between Fibromyalgia and depression, with an individual being three times more likely to have depression at the time of their diagnosis than someone without Fibromyalgia. 

Be Proactive

Most experts suggest being proactive and getting the correct diagnosis and treatment for their pain. Otherwise, the problem will progress, and the need for future long-term care when you are older increases. 

While it appears that women suffer more pain than men, pain is still a significant factor for anyone as they age. A plan for the future costs and burdens of aging and declining health should be part of a retirement plan before your health starts changing and you get too old.

Long-Term Care Insurance is often used as a way to provide access to quality care services without draining assets or placing a burden on loved ones. Most people obtain coverage in their 50s when they still have reasonably good health and premiums are affordable.