Hi, My name is Jill. I just signed up and from what I have read..I am impressed and do not feel so alone now. I have read some of the forums, have read about all the pain everyone experiences and even though my heart goes out to all who suffer. I know that I can, and will be, of great support to anyone who cares to contact me.
I suffer from chronic pain in my lower back, hip and legs.
I have been diagnosed with many different conditions, including degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, broke my back twice and much more.
I know I am far from alone when I say that chronic pain can cause depression. Who could not feel some depression when every single day, practially every moment, we are trying to deal with pain, in one way or the other.
Then there's all the medications we take which can lead to even more depression. It goes on and on.
I wish better days for everyone here and am looking forward to hearing from you.
Hugs,Jill
PS. I hope I am doing this right ( inserting my message)
hi Jill and welcome to the forum!
we are here to offer you support and answer what questions we can. i am so glad you stopped by. we suffer from many of the same problems. please have a look around and make yourself at home. good luck with your pain issues! 
Jenny 
Double laminectomy L4-L5, bulging discs, DDD, Bone spurs, nerve damage in left leg and hip, DJD, and that to familiar visitor,arthritis
It sounds like you have a great attitude and that is really half the battle. I agree about depression. It is like a never ending roller coaster. Good luck and I look forward to seeing you around the forum.
I am in no way associated with the medical field. Anything that I post comes from personal experience only.
DDD, Facet Arthropathy, DJD,Collapsed Disc, Sleep Apnea
PT, Epidurals, Facet Blocks,Medial Branch Block, Rhizotomy,Discogram,Annular Tare L3/L4 Endoscopic MicroD and PLDD,
Methadone, Percocet, Baclofen, Welbutrin
Hi Jill and welcome to Spine Health
I'm so glad you found us here but sorry that you're in so much pain and unfortunately that awful bogeyman depression. It's so hard for family and friends who've never experienced this to understand but there are lots of people here who are able to give you understanding and support.
I wish you happier days when you can get your pain under control.
Trish
ALIF L4/5 19th October 2009
Discectomy/laminectomy L4/5 April 2008 - didn't help
Advanced right sided L4/5 and L5/S1 facet joint degenerative change
Discs L3/4 and L5/S1 worn - surgery may be required - wait and see situation.
I've had lower back pain for over 1 and 1/2 years and have been on LTD from work since then. I've been here over a year on Spine Health and the support has been helping me since. Feeling alone was so overwhelming at first but if I don't come here for support I don't think I would've made it through on my own. I hope we can support you what you need. Take care. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only.
Mild lumber DDD. L5-S1 herniated disc and annular tear not seen on 2nd MRI. Off work LTD x 2years. Meds-Oxycontin 40mg x 3/day new med for me Jan.20. lyrica 150/2,Cymbalta 60/day,flexeril 10x3/day,voltarin 75/2/day,serax 30mg for sleep. Infrared Platinum heating pad, ESI's, Facet joint injs, trigger point injs,PT,accupuncture,TENS
Hi Jill. Sounds like we both signed up for the same reasons, to meet people like us, get & offer support. I know exactly what you mean about the depression. I was in so deep I was truly beginning to think I could never find my way out. Thank goodness my sister dragged me to her psychiatrist, who's subspecialty is pharmacuticals, when she saw what bad shape I was in. I didn't even realize just HOW depressed I was until I started feeling better. He switched me from Lunesta to Trazadone, to help me sleep. Doc said Lunesta & Ambien can make depression worse! He also put me on Lexapro & boy, has it helped! We tweaked it until the dosage was right & it took about a month before I started seeing a real difference but it's a HUGE difference. Now I don't go around sobbing all the time & actually sing to the radio again. It's not a cure-all but has made a profound differnce. He also put me on xanax, which helps tremendously with the bouts of extreme emotions that come when the pain spikes way up. Before all these back problems, the only meds I ever took were ibuprofen & flexeril. I really resisted taking so many meds but I can't argue with how much better they make me feel. Talking with people on this site has also helped so much. Now I don't feel so terribly alone, which makes the depression so much worse. Hang in there, sweetie. We have each other & that's no small thing
Life is not holding a good hand. Life is playing a poor hand well.