Let me start with something that might surprise
you. Pain is not simply just part of getting
older. I hear that phrase all the time, and I
understand why people say it. But here's the
truth. Pain is your body's way of talking to
you. And when we ignore it, we miss important
messages that could keep us safer and more independent.
Today I want to walk you through why pain matters,
what it can really be telling you, and what to
do about it. Because brushing pain off can lead
to bigger problems down the road. And just so
you know where I'm coming from, I'm Robin Schiltz.
I'm a senior home safety specialist and I've
spent years helping older adults stay safe at
home. I've seen firsthand what happens when pain
is ignored and when it's addressed early. So
let's talk about it. First of all, pain is information.
That is something I want you to remember. Pain
isn't weakness or complaining. It's not something
you should just live with. Pain is your body
waving a flag and saying, hey, something's not
right here. Sometimes pain is sharp and obvious.
Other times it's dull, nagging, or comes and
goes. And those quieter pains are often the ones
people ignore the longest. I've worked with seniors
who told me all my... My knee always hurts, but
that's normal. Or my back aches, but I don't
want to bother anyone. So what I'm saying is
that knee pain might change the way you walk.
The back pain might make you avoid standing up
straight. And those small changes can throw off
your balance without you realizing it. Pain changes
how you move. When something hurts, your body
naturally tries to protect it. You shift your
weight, you start favoring one side, or you move
slower, or you start holding on to furniture
more often, and at first that seems helpful,
but over time it can actually increase your risk
of falling. Someone has hip pain, so they lean
more on the other leg, then that leg gets weaker
and their balance gets worse, and suddenly they're
one small trip away from a serious fall. Pain
doesn't stay just in one spot. It affects your
whole body, and it affects your confidence, too.
Pain can quietly steal your independence. When
pain sticks around, people often start doing
less. They stop walking as far as they used to.
They sit more. They avoid stairs. They skip activities
they enjoy. Not because they want to, but because
it hurts. Over time, muscles get weaker. Joints
get stiffer, endurance drops, and daily tasks
start to feel harder. I've had people tell me,
I don't go out much anymore. It's just easier
to stay home. Well, that's not just a physical
issue. That's now an independence issue. And
here's the part that really matters. The less
you move, the harder it becomes to move. Pain
can start a cycle that gets tough to break if
it goes on for too long. Pain can be a sign of
something bigger, too. Sometimes pain is really
about wear and tear, but sometimes it's also
a warning sign. Pain can signal things like joint
damage, nerve problems, infections, circulation
issues, even medication side effects. For example,
new pain that comes on suddenly, or pain that
wakes you up at night, pain that keeps getting
worse, or pain paired with weakness, numbness,
or dizziness. Those types of pains are not wait
-and -see pains. I always say this. It's better
to check and find out it's nothing serious than
to ignore something that needed attention. You're
not overreacting by asking questions. You are
being smart. Pain affects mood and thinking,
too, and this part doesn't get talked about enough.
Chronic pain can wear you down emotionally. It
can lead to irritability, anxiety, poor sleep,
and even depression. When you're hurting all
the time, it's harder to focus and harder to
stay patient and harder to feel hopeful. And
poor sleep alone can increase your fall risk,
slow your reaction time, and make pain feel even
worse the next day. So, as you see, pain isn't
just physical. It touches every part of your
life. What should you do instead of ignoring
pain? First, pay attention to patterns. Ask yourself
simple questions. When does it hurt? What makes
it better? What makes it worse? Is it new or
has it changed? Second, talk about it. Tell your
doctor, a family member, your therapist. You
don't need fancy words and scientific explanations.
Just tell the person what you feel and how it
affects your day. Third, don't jump straight
into, I'll just take more pills. Sure, medication
can help, but it's only one piece of the puzzle.
Often, pain improves with better movement or
safer home setups, supportive footwear, small
daily changes. As a home safety specialist, I've
seen pain decrease just by adjusting furniture
height or adding grab bars or changing how someone
gets in and out of a chair. Sometimes the fix
is simpler than you think. And finally, be kind
to yourself. Pain is feedback. It is not a failure.
Listening to your body early can prevent falls,
hospital visits, and loss of independence later
on. And that's the real takeaway. If you remember
one thing from today, remember this, pain deserves
your attention, not fear or panic, but attention.
So thanks for joining me today. Please share
this episode with someone you care about who
could use the information to make their life
safer. You'll find more resources for seniors
and caregivers on our website at seniorsafetyadvice
.com. And if you're searching for an aging in
place specialist, please visit our sister website
at aginginplacedirectory .com. Also, if you haven't
subscribed to our YouTube channel or to this
podcast yet, go ahead and do that right now,
and then come back tomorrow for another daily
moment of guidance and encouragement, right here
on the Senior Safety Advice Podcast. Until next
time, thanks for listening. Take care. Bye.