Healthcare professionals have been aware for a long time that depression is by far the most common emotion associated with chronic back pain and it is thought to be four times greater in people in chronic pain than in the general population!!
Symptoms of "clinical depression" due to chronic pain include a feeling of being sad, low and tearful mood, sleep problems which include disturbed sleep due to pain, which then leads to fatigue in the day. Interest lost in activities, so everyday activities and employment can be affected leading to social isolation. Decreased sex drive which can then lead to tensions in relationships. Suicidal thoughts and problems with concentration or memory.
Treatments for back pain alone can on occasion be an anti-depressent for analgesic benefits alone, even without the patient having symptoms of depression.
The most common drug used is Amatryptyline (which is what I am on) other treatments they now recommend together with low dose amatryptyline is massage, hypnotherapy and gentle exercise.
Massage helps relieve stress and relaxes you and hypnotherapy they say can help you to gain some control over your feelings about pain. Sunshine and fresh air may also contribute to lifting a persons mood.
After reading this article I realised that I am taking the same drug they mentioned, and I am doing all the same treatments to help me with my pain but I have never once been told I have "clinical depression" due to chronic pain. I appreciate without all that I take and do, that it might affect me that way but I'd rather not read articles like this which seem to give us chronic pain sufferes a bit of a "sad" outlook.
Obviously,you can feel low and tearful when you are in pain, obviously sleep problems are something you suffer from when your pain keeps waking you up, and so, obviously you will feel tired the next day. I wouldn't say I lost my interest in my usual activities but I know I cannot do them so it is just not worth thinking about them and obviously decreased sex drive can be a big issue with some couples but hopefully most have a very understanding partner. As far as feeling suicidel - well for me, never in a million years would I feel suicidal, I have far to many good friends and family to ever feel that way. The problems with concentration and memory are probably the most frustrating thing to me, but I have always blamed that on the medication I am taking, and which I will always have to take for what I think will be the rest of my life.
Healthcare professionals have been aware for a long time that depression is by far the most common emotion associated with chronic back pain and it is thought to be four times greater in people in chronic pain than in the general population!!
Symptoms of "clinical depression" due to chronic pain include a feeling of being sad, low and tearful mood, sleep problems which include disturbed sleep due to pain, which then leads to fatigue in the day. Interest lost in activities, so everyday activities and employment can be affected leading to social isolation. Decreased sex drive which can then lead to tensions in relationships. Suicidal thoughts and problems with concentration or memory.
Treatments for back pain alone can on occasion be an anti-depressent for analgesic benefits alone, even without the patient having symptoms of depression.
The most common drug used is Amatryptyline (which is what I am on) other treatments they now recommend together with low dose amatryptyline is massage, hypnotherapy and gentle exercise.
Massage helps relieve stress and relaxes you and hypnotherapy they say can help you to gain some control over your feelings about pain. Sunshine and fresh air may also contribute to lifting a persons mood.
After reading this article I realised that I am taking the same drug they mentioned, and I am doing all the same treatments to help me with my pain but I have never once been told I have "clinical depression" due to chronic pain. I appreciate without all that I take and do, that it might affect me that way but I'd rather not read articles like this which seem to give us chronic pain sufferes a bit of a "sad" outlook.
Obviously,you can feel low and tearful when you are in pain, obviously sleep problems are something you suffer from when your pain keeps waking you up, and so, obviously you will feel tired the next day. I wouldn't say I lost my interest in my usual activities but I know I cannot do them so it is just not worth thinking about them and obviously decreased sex drive can be a big issue with some couples but hopefully most have a very understanding partner. As far as feeling suicidel - well for me, never in a million years would I feel suicidal, I have far to many good friends and family to ever feel that way. The problems with concentration and memory are probably the most frustrating thing to me, but I have always blamed that on the medication I am taking, and which I will always have to take for what I think will be the rest of my life.