“How can pain be managed in the elderly?”

Pain in the elderly is difficult to treat because as we age, we become more sensitive to the side effects of medications. In the case of pain medication, the elderly become more sensitive to the respiratory side effect of opioids which could be very dangerous. A qualified pain medicine specialist should however be able to navigate through your mother's
co-morbidities (other medical issues) and her current pain state. It may require him/her to start at a very low dose and increase slowly as needed. There are also many interventional procedures we can perform depending on the location of the pain which do not require opioid medication and provide good pain control.

The first step in evaluating pain from multiple, diverse sources is to conduct a personal medical interview followed by a comprehensive physical examination. The history and clinical examination are then used to construct a possible source for the pain which is then followed by suggesting or recommending treatment options. The entire process is one which is essential, as many pain conditions of the sort you are describing can be addressed using simple remedies which do not involve surgery or prolonged periods of convalescence. My humble suggestion is to have your family member schedule a visit and, in doing so, start the process of investigation so as not to further delay them from attaining a reduction in their pain while improving their quality of life. Let me know if you would like additional information or a recommendation as to how one might proceed under these circumstances.

Thank you and best regards,

Kenneth D. Candido, M.D.

It depends on what is causing the pain and then depending upon the cause, treatment can be prescribed. She needs to see her PCP to see what can be causing the pain.