Chronic pain and depression
Dr. Wendy Cunningham | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 6 months AGO
Pain serves an important function in our lives. When you suffer an acute injury, pain warns you to stop the activity that is causing harm and tells you to take care of it.
Chronic pain is pain that persists for months or even years. Some people suffer from chronic pain without any specific injury. Some of the more common types of chronic pain are headaches, low back pain, and arthritis. Unfortunately, there is usually little to no objective evidence or physical finding to explain the pain.
In the past when a physical cause was not identified, some doctors would suggest that the pain was “all in your head.” Emerging scientific evidence is demonstrating that the nerves in the spinal cord of patients with chronic pain undergo structural changes.
Psychological and social issues often intensify the effects of chronic pain. Depression is the most common emotion associated with chronic pain. It is thought to be 3 to 4 times more common in people with chronic pain than in the general population. The combination of chronic pain and depression is often associated with greater disability than either depression or chronic pain alone.
This combination of chronic pain and depression can lead to dramatic changes in a person’s physical, mental, and social well-being and quality of life. They often have difficulty sleeping, feel easily agitated, difficulty performing normal activities, trouble concentrating, and difficulty performing duties at work and home. This leads to a vicious cycle of pain leading to more depression which leads to more chronic pain.
Depression associated with pain is powerful enough to have a substantial negative impact on the outcome of treatment, including surgery. It is important for your doctor to take into consideration the psychological issues that pain brings.
The first step in coping with chronic pain is to determine its cause, if possible. Chiropractic and acupuncture have a long, successful history helping patients deal with “unexplained pain.” Addressing the problem can help the pain subside and break the vicious cycle of chronic pain and depression.
For questions, email Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.
MORE IMPORTED STORIES
Temporomandibular joint disorders and chiropractic
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 9 years, 6 months ago
ARTICLES BY DR. WENDY CUNNINGHAM
Massage cupping: An ancient technique with powerful results
The modern world of healing has embraced another wonderful ancient technique that has powerful results. Massage cupping bodywork is being used for many purposes, including helping with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.
The realities of leg cramps
Most of us have experienced it at some point; that crazy charley horse that wakes you out of a dead sleep with excruciating pain in your leg or foot. According to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, about one in every three adults is affected by muscle cramps in their lower limbs. In many cases, the pain is temporary and goes away on its own, but for some the cramps interfere with sleep, quality of life and daily activities.
Acupuncture in the ER
Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis is reporting success using acupuncture in its emergency room to treat conditions ranging from car accident injuries to migraines to kidney stones, and hoping to prove that the traditional Chinese treatment can reduce reliance on addictive opioid drugs to manage pain.