What diseases should be considered in elderly patients with generalized body pain?

Generally, body-wide pain in the elderly may be caused by conditions such as osteoporosis, gastritis, angina pectoris, arthritis, diabetes, and others. Treatment should be based on specific circumstances. The detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can cause lower back pain and may lead to pain on both sides of the ribs. If osteoporosis worsens, it may result in generalized body pain, weakness, and even affect sleep. Patients are advised to follow medical guidance and use medications such as zoledronic acid injection, alendronate sodium tablets, calcitriol soft capsules, and alfacalcidol soft capsules for treatment.

2. Gastritis

Gastritis is a common condition usually caused by irregular eating habits, alcohol consumption, or Helicobacter pylori infection. It may cause stomach pain that radiates to other areas, leading to generalized body pain. Timely treatment is essential for gastritis patients, as delayed management may lead to worsening of the condition and potentially progress to gastric cancer. Under medical supervision, patients may take medications such as domperidone tablets, sucralfate chewable tablets, ranitidine hydrochloride tablets, and omeprazole enteric-coated capsules.

3. Angina Pectoris

Angina pectoris is a clinical condition caused by acute myocardial ischemia, which may lead to chest pain and subsequently cause the aforementioned symptoms. Prompt and appropriate intervention is necessary upon onset to quickly relieve myocardial ischemia; otherwise, prolonged ischemia and hypoxia may lead to acute myocardial infarction. During an angina attack, patients should rest immediately and cease physical activity. Under medical guidance, medications such as metoprolol tartrate tablets, clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate tablets, and aspirin enteric-coated tablets may be used.

4. Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term for various types of joint inflammation caused by trauma, inflammation, infection, degenerative changes, or autoimmune factors. Its main clinical manifestations include joint pain, swelling, and functional impairment, which may lead to the symptoms described above. Under medical supervision, patients may take medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, celecoxib capsules, loxoprofen sodium tablets, and chondroitin sulfate tablets.

5. Diabetes

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to multiple etiologies, primarily resulting from defects in insulin secretion or utilization. Common symptoms include polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), polyphagia (increased appetite), weight loss, and fatigue. Due to nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood glucose levels, patients may experience generalized body pain. Under medical guidance, medications such as glipizide dispersible tablets and repaglinide dispersible tablets may be used. Additionally, patients should reduce intake of high-sugar foods and engage in appropriate physical exercise.

Patients are advised to seek timely medical attention when experiencing discomfort and receive standardized treatment under professional medical guidance to promote recovery.