Is Chronic Back Pain Linked To Depression?

12 Nov Is Chronic Back Pain Linked To Depression?

Persons living with chronic back pain are often advised by healthcare professionals like back specialists in Seattle to abstain from performing a number of ordinary life activities. A constant nagging pain makes it difficult to work, move, sleep, travel, socialize and has an overall detrimental effect on an individual’s personal and professional life. In addition to this, pain management medications may induce gastrointestinal issues which can further impact the quality of life of the patient. The influence of all these factors may disturb the mental state of the individual rendering the person susceptible to depression.

What are the symptoms of depression associated with back pain?
Acute, short-term back pain may induce short episodes of depression which wanes with recovery from the back pain. The symptoms of depression associated with chronic back pain is, however, more serious and referred to as major or clinical depression. If you are suffering from chronic back pain, search for back pain Seattle and visit a back specialist in Seattle to discuss your symptoms and find whether you are suffering from depression.The following are the symptoms of major depression:

• A feeling of sadness and hopelessness
• Irritability
• A change in appetite – Overeating and gaining weight or under eating and losing weight
• Changes in sleep patters – Excessive sleeping or suffering from insomnia
• Poor concentration and memory
• Loss of interest in life as whole and abstaining from sexual activities.
• Feeling sluggish or restless
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Is there a genetic link between back pain and depression?

Studies by researchers have found that genetics has a definite role to play in the association between back pain and depression. Researchers conducted a study on 2,150 Spanish twins registered in the Murcia Twin Registry and deduced the fact that there is a clear genetic link between depression and back pain.

Psychological reasons leading to depression?
A host of symptoms experienced by patients of chronic back pain may lead to the symptoms of clinical depression:

• The difficulty to sleep with a back pain may make the person irritable
• Patients with back pain usually cannot work in a workplace and need to stay at home  with minimum movement which leads to a feeling of isolation.
• Inability to work may lead to financial insecurities which may have its toll on the entire  family.
• The pain distracts the patient continuously and results in a lack of concentration and memory
• Stress builds up on personal relationships as sex takes a backseat in the patient’s mind.
• Pain ultimately takes over control of the patient’s life and the patient enters into major depression.

Treatment of depression and its impact on back pain
Depression can overwhelm the chances of recovery of a patient suffering from back pain. Evidence clearly shows that depression can have a negative impact on a spine surgery outcome. So, it is important to treat depression simultaneously with back pain to using a multidisciplinary approach. Psychological interventions that are used to treat depression are:

• Administration of antidepressant medications

• Training for relaxations and mindfulness

• Counselling sessions by psychotherapists

Treating depression may also help in alleviating chronic back pain just like treatment of back pain helps eliminate the depression. It is always advisable to visit a back specialist living near you when the back pain lingers for long. For example, if you are based in Seattle, search for back pain Seattle on the net and visit a back specialist in Seattle with your problem.