Painful reminders

POST FALLS - When it comes to fighting his back pain, Herb Nagel is all ears.

"I exercise and lift light weights, but it still seems like issues come up," the Rathdrum senior said.

Nagel was among more than 100 people who packed into the Post Falls police station's Community Room on Friday to attend a free pain management workshop presented by Scott Magnuson, a doctor with Pain Management of North Idaho.

Based on the turnout and a look around Pain Management's office during his appointments, Nagel knows he has a lot of company when it comes to wanting to sponge up information on pain.

"That office is loaded," Nagel said.

America's population is aging, and several factors point toward pain physicians as being even more overwhelmed with patients in the future.

By 2020, one in six Americans will be age 65 and older. The first Baby Boomers, a big part of the population, turned 65 last year.

And pain is on their minds.

The Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho, which sponsored the workshop, recently surveyed seniors to see what they'd like to hear about and pain management rose to the top.

"The attendance superseded our wildest expectations," said Bob Small of the Area Agency on Aging. "We planned on 45 to 50."

Twenty percent of all seniors have chronic pain, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Magnuson said pain is such a hot topic because most of us are affected by it or know someone who is. It can lead to mood swings, poor quality of life and failure to thrive.

Magnuson said it's important to get on top of pain early on.

"The longer you wait, the less likely you'll find success in the treatment," he said. "To make your long-term prospects better, it's important to find treatment early. Pain is a warning system to prevent further damage."

He said there may not be a perfect treatment solution and those seeking help may not always hear what they want to.

"Sometimes the best we can do is not always great," he said. "But we do have a moral obligation to do the best we can to treat the pain."

Medication treatment for seniors can be complicated by physiologic changes such as decreased kidney, liver or lung function, lower weight and low protein concentrations, Magnuson said.

Opioids, which are used for chronic pain, can be effective, but need to be used cautiously, Magnuson said.

"Like anything else, they have limitations," he said. "It's not a complete answer, but it can be helpful. A lot of people end up being disappointed with them."

Patients need to start with low doses and the effectiveness can wear off, requiring more medicine to be taken. That can lead down an unhealthy - and even dangerous - path, Magnuson said.

Post Falls' Ron Stickney, who suffers from arthritis in a knee, said attending the workshop made him more aware of the pain management options available.

"I've been pretty lucky because I'm not in a lot of pain, but it's nice to know there's help, especially when you're as old as I am," the 80-year-old said.