Depression and Chronic Pain: Causes and Treatment

This is an automatically translated article.

1. What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain often includes pain that lasts longer than expected due to some health problem or initial injury. When pain becomes chronic, the person may experience the following typical symptoms:
Abnormally high levels of stress hormones in the body Low energy levels in the body Mood disorders Muscle pain Lower-than-normal mental health and athletic performance Chronic pain gets worse as the body undergoes changes that make the person more sensitive to pain. Chronic pain can even begin to appear in previously unaffected areas. In addition, it is also considered a major cause of sleep disruption and nighttime awakenings.
Constant pain can cause additional irritation, hinder as well as bring certain difficulties when you communicate with others. In particular, it seems to be a major life challenge for those who spend all their time working or taking care of children. These challenges can lead to negative emotions for someone with chronic pain, such as depression, irritability, and even suicide.

2. Depression in people with chronic pain

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems faced by people with chronic pain. It often complicates other medical conditions and their treatment. According to research, about a quarter to more than half of the world's population has chronic pain and is also depressed. In addition, an average of 65% of people with depression also have symptoms of chronic pain. The study also found that people with pain that limit their self-control were more likely to experience depression.
Because depression can be difficult to diagnose in people with chronic pain, it often goes untreated. When a person suffers from depression, sleep disturbances, lack of energy, loss of appetite, or reduced physical activity, these conditions further aggravate chronic pain.

3. How does chronic pain affect emotions?

Pain can cause emotional reactions in everyone. When you're in pain, it can contribute to emotions like anxiety, irritability, and irritability. These are all common feelings when your body is hurting. However, as the pain subsides, the stress response is also eased.
On the other hand, for chronic pain, the person may feel constantly anxious and stressed. Over time, excessive stress leads to a variety of different emotional problems associated with depression. The following are common conditions in people with chronic pain and depression, including:
Mood swings Outrage Confused thinking Chronic anxiety Decreased self-esteem Fear of injury Fatigue Stress Straight Having financial concerns Irritability Physical impairment Legal problems Decreased interest in sex and activity Social isolation Sleep disturbance Having problems at work Increase/decrease weigh

4. The Intertwining of Chronic Pain and Depression

Chronic pain and depression both share some neurotransmitters – chemicals in the brain that act as messengers between nerves. Depression and chronic pain also share some nerve pathways in the brain and spinal cord.
The impact of chronic pain on the patient's life also plays a role in depression. It forces you to grapple with huge losses, such as lack of sleep, lack of exercise, loss of social relationships, sex, even existing income and jobs. These losses may contribute to depression in people who are prone to clinical depression. Then the pain seems to magnify and reduce your tolerance for it.
A recent study compared people with chronic pain and depression with those with only chronic pain. The results showed that patients with both conditions, including chronic pain and depression, experienced the following problems:
Feel the pain more intensely It's harder to control their lives Have strategies for less healthy pain management Because chronic pain and depression can be intertwined, they are often treated together. Currently, a number of drugs can help improve both conditions.

5. Treatments for Chronic Pain and Depression

Chronic pain and depression can affect a person's entire life. Therefore, the ideal treatment approach for both conditions is to address every area of ​​life that is affected by them.
Depression and chronic pain are closely linked, so treatments for these conditions may be similar.
Use of antidepressants Because chronic pain and depression are related to the same neurotransmitters and nerves, several types of antidepressants are commonly used to treat both conditions. this disease.
There is ample evidence that tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline (Pamelor) and amitriptyline HCL (Elavil) can be highly effective in treating neuropathic forms of pain (neuropathic pain) such as disc herniation, migraines, or other spinal nerve root problems. However, because these antidepressants can have some unwanted side effects, they are no longer used as much as they used to be. Instead, new types of antidepressants, including norepinephrine (Effexor, Cymbalta) or serotonin reuptake inhibitors, seem to work well and often cause fewer side effects.
Be physically active Many people with chronic pain avoid exercise, but this can put them at greater risk of injury and pain. If you have chronic pain, work with your doctor to create a safe and effective physical exercise plan for you.
On the other hand, proper exercise also helps you relieve symptoms of depression by releasing the same brain chemicals that antidepressants affect.
Cognitive therapy In cognitive therapy, patients will learn to notice the negative “automatic thoughts” that surround chronic pain. These are often distortions of reality, and over time therapy will help you change these thoughts and feel better. It's also a treatment for depression, which can help relieve symptoms of anxiety in people with chronic pain.

6. The best way to manage chronic pain and depression

People with chronic pain and depression should seek the support of healthcare professionals to develop an effective treatment and management plan.
During treatment, you need to strictly follow the instructions of your doctor until you feel that your pain and depression are under control, and you can live your life to the fullest and do the things you need to do. what you love.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consultation services. comprehensive and professional medical consultation and treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webmd.com