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How Chronic Pain Leads to Depression
People who live with chronic pain have long been saying that the non-stop physical pain is not the only challenge in their lives, but along with the pain comes a host of other challenges, such as:
Now new research findings confirm this. The recent study, conducted at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, found that physical changes in the brain caused by chronic pain are likely to lead to depression as well as other pain-related symptoms.
In the study, the researchers demonstrated that the wiring in the brain of someone dealing with chronic pain is different than that of pain-free individuals. In a the brain of a pain-free individual, all the regions of the brain exist in a complementary state, meaning that if one region of the brain is active the other regions are at rest. But in people with chronic pain, a front region of the cortex mostly associated with emotion is constantly active.
“The areas that are affected fail to deactivate when they should.” said Dante Chialvo, lead author and associate research professor of physiology at the Feinberg School. “They are stuck on full throttle, wearing out neurons and altering their connections to each other. “
‘If you are a chronic pain patient, you have pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every minute of your life,” Chialvo said. “That permanent perception of pain in your brain makes these areas in your brain continuously active. This continuous dysfunction in the equilibrium of the brain can change the wiring forever and could hurt the brain.”
Chialvo hypothesized: “It could be that pain produces depression and the other reported abnormalities because it disturbs the balance of the brain as a whole.”
Importantly, Chialvo notes that the research findings “show it is essential to study new approaches to treat chronic patients not just to control their pain but also to evaluate and prevent the dysfunction that may be generated in the brain by the chronic pain.” The research results are being published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Source: http://www.chialvo.net/
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Failing Body
This is the first time I thought to seek help online. It is also the first really good cry I have had in years. Reading each story was like hearing myself. I am 43 and had worked very and was very active and outdoorsy until 5 years ago... I was home renovating and my back let go. Turns out I have degenerative disks with bone fragments impeding my main nerve causing siatic problems; I have no cartledge in my pelvis and needless to say that is only the beginning.
I too am alone and trying to hold on to my sanity while learning how to live within such limits and pain. I do not believe in modern medicine and pills. I refuse to take any pain med's unless way too painful. I have always had a strong constitution and extreme pain tolerance (comes in handy now).
I don't know -- I guess I just wanted to thank all of you people for sharing and allowing me to see I am not so alone after all. I will hold you in my prayers. God Speed.
chronic pain depression and turning a corner
FRI 4-25-08 9:00pm
It's six years since my accident; suffered burst fracture at the L1 and my sternum snapped like a twig. Regretably I became a victim of the workers comp system. There is a rampant problem in the medical insurance industry where the delay tactic so frequently exposed in the media is only the tip of the iceberg. In my expirience, treating and evaluating medical facility, as well as pharmacy personel, also mistreat patients to the extent where we feel victimized by the system. Turning the corner for me is about accepting the mistreatment as ordinary and not taking it person-ally. It's about recognizing that if I let the victim mentality invade my thoughts and beliefs I loose rational decision making abilities and make myself seem overly emotional and illogical. By journalling on a daily basis I've been able to go back and read things about my own thought process-es that sounded like anyone but me! I'm certain all of us dealing with chronic pain have lost some of ourselves, some of who we used to be and would truly like to regain again. Right now I'm looking for affirmations on the human qualities I desire to exhibit to help me turn depresssion to sanity.
I used to believe that if I sought counseling I would in some way be letting those who would deny us due process and dignity defeat me on some level. Funny how we let the very depression we want to over come keep us from getting help!
You might wonder what changed my mind about getting that help. Let me just say that there are probably more people around who would encourage you in this endeveour than you realize, and those who read and share here are amomg them. So let me suggest that counseling can be more inspirational and rewarding than we can even contemplate when our minds are disstracted and blocked by pain.
I've probably rambled way to long here so just let me say "thanks for the enlightenment and the opportunity to share".
Chronic Pain And Being Married
I have lived in chronic pain for the last 9-10 years. I am married and have been married for 14 years. Wow my marriage has really gone south due to my chronic pain levels of 7-8 every day 24 hours a day. No I am not the same old Geoff and have really not done well showing love towards my wife. I truly love her but it is just tuff getting my mind in it. She does not understand my pain levels and how pain affects your brain, your everyday thinking.I have tried explaining how I feel and it just is not sinking in. I know she hurts also more than me maybe a broken heart hurts. She had a man that could go places, have fun getting out and just having fun and now I act and feel like a 85 year old man, I am 51.I work 5 days a week 9-10 hour days and by lunch I am just so tired and beat down it takes all my effort just to get home and rest. After 5 days of working it takes the whole weekend to rest and get enough energy to start the week over.I see a pain management Dr and without the meds I would not even function. Any advice any help would be so much appreciated.
Geoff
I am going to have facet
I am going to have facet joint injections later this morning. I know that they may not work, as I have had lumber Epidurals in the past which sort of worked.
What I find hard to deal with as well as the pain is the constant tiredness. I need to lie down after just a comparitivly short walk, just to rest, and rest my back and arthritic hip. I seem to spend much of my life lying down, and usually have to get to bed by about 8 30 pm so that I can rest my back enough to let me perform for a few hours the next day.
Tiredness and depression about my condition, are constant companions to the pain.
Still I hope today might bring some relief.
Pain and Depression
I agree. I suffer from bi-polar Type II disorder and the constant pain from my herniated and torn L4 and L5 leave me fighting hard against my depression. It SUCKS being in pain all the damn time. When i drive, brush my teeth, put on shoes, etc....it is like it never ends. Unfortunately, it is a worker's comp injury, and I am finding that going through Worker's comp insurance takes forever to get anything done. I am in my 4th month of pain. For those experiencing what I am, I feel for you.
Chronic neck and arm pain
Yes!! I am glad to know I'm not the only one going slowly insane. I am fighting depression, and feeling like I'm losing. I do not have a specific incident I can point at and say, "This is what happened!" I just seem to be falling apart. I'm 34, I've had x-rays and MRIs, but no one can tell me why my spine is getting squeezed. Too many brains? I doubt it! First it was my Left arm a year ago, now its both left and right. Burning, squeezing, cold, stabbing, feeling like forks are ripping the muscles apart, numbness, pins & needles, you name it, I've got it from my neck all the way my fingertips, on both hands. It is truly maddening. Good luck and God Bless....
Fibromaylagia
I've had fibromyalgia since ....when no one could pronounce it. As far back as the 1980's
The pain I experience every day is just unbelieveable.
Now I see commercials about Fibromyalgia...And I say to myself finally someone is talkiing about this problem.
I am 63 years of age and this is related to people with upper body activity. I am a custom framer and my son is a Chef ...Both jobs relate to upper body activity...So I feel that men can get this problem also. Because he has the same pains (body related that I have) Also the depression.
People with this problem NEED HELP.
I have had chiropractic help and had a wonderful massage therapist ....That helped the most.
I could go on about this but I feel what I said is the most Important ....
Chronic pain and my depression
I've had chronic pain now for just under 3 years (it will be three years on 4-16 of this year) I was involved in a car accident that broke my back in multiple areas and required a fusion from T3 - T10. I fractured L3 and L4 and feal a lot of pain in those areas and it radiates down into my hips, tailbone, and both legs. I have pain from where I had the fusion and into the left side of my ribs. I haven't had a pain free day since the accident. I've struggled so very much in just trying to live that I've shut everyone out because I'm trying to ignore the pain everyday. Family and friends are contstantly worried that I'm going to kill myself for I've tried 4 to 5 times in the last couple of years. I'm on heavy duty pain meds but they don't seem to help all the time. I do make the best out of my life now. I have a 19 month old son that depends on me to take care of him. He's why I'm still alive today. Depression kicks my butt! I struggle every morning still just to get out of bed and ready for the day. Things I hope will get better and till that day comes I guess I just have to keep living the way I do. I'm rambling but I wanted to write about my experience with chronic pain. I'm sure most people that have chronic pain can understand what I've said and live with the same things. Thanks for letting me vent and reading my thoughts
Kevin W
Duluth, MN
cronic pain
I also have cronic pain. It is the only constant in my life. I no longer can take care of myself, I was once a neat nick, not I live in a pig stye. I am alone with no help, since it was a work place accident, I fear how will I live, support myself, I swore to my self before I became a bag lady on the street, I would put a 357 in my mouth. Not only the pain, the fear of being thrown away by the workers comp system. And being alone.
Chronic Pain and Depression
I have been writing about and telling people that chronic pain ain't no joke. I have been in pain since 1995 and it don't look like it's going to get any better. I even started writing about my experiences on two websites http://www.vge-llc.4t.com and http://www.vinicent-d-holland.4t.com because I want to share what I have learned thru experience with others and to see what others have learned that might help all of us tolerate chronic pain better. It's a nightmare. It makes you question your very existence. It leads you down some dangerous roads of thought. It ain't easy to deal with. I needed help to admit to myself that I was still okay, just had to do things different. Chronic pain will cause depression even if you don't admit it. Look at your life now and then ask OTHERS what you are like. I lied to myself but I am so glad to see sites like this blog out here so I can relate to other people and feel alive again. Thanks
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