Having Depression and Chronic Pain

Anyone who has suffered with chronic pain, the pain that becomes your life partner and then stabs you in the back, knows how easily it becomes to fall into a really bad depression.  The pain that never quits leaves you wondering if living is as great at you thought it was. Depression just gets in line and follows the pain leader down that lonely road. Believe me, I've been on that road and it's a mean, dead-end.

Pain is a normal. It's a bad sensation triggered by your brain to let you know there is something wrong and you need to do something about it. Chronic pain is different. It stays with you and makes itself at home.  Pain signals keep firing at you for weeks, months, and maybe years.  This is caused by many illnesses such as arthritis, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel, spinal degeneration, and so many more. Pain is the not same for everyone. It can last for months or last a lifetime. It takes a toll, both physically and emotionally. It can lead to depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and irritability.  Some chronic pain sufferers cannot work or even do the pleasurable things they used to do. It can cause problems in relationships. Everyone who is around the person with chronic pain suffers. It can lead to the over use of drugs and alcohol. Chronic pain is toxic and can ruin your life.

There may have been an accident which started if off, an auto accident perhaps with sprained back or neck injury. Most chronic pain sufferers tend to be in the older age group. You have chronic complaints such as low back pain, headaches, nerve pain, sciatic pain and many more.  And the real kick in the head is that your doctors don't really get that concerned about your pain.  They worry about prescribing heavy medications which they have to explain about prescribing to government offices. So doctors tend to turn a blind eye and deaf ear your way.

There are many treatments around for chronic pain.  There are pain medications, acupuncture, electric stimulation treatments, and even surgery. So often you keep getting referred off to yet another specialist who runs tests, shakes his head, and says there is just so much that can be done. Some must suffer - so they say.

Over 70 million people a year suffer with chronic pain and if you are a member of this group, you aren't a happy camper. I have had a chronic pain problem for several years and I know the run around involved.  Doctors want to turn away from this problem because there are no tests to prove your pain and no quick way to fix you up and make you happy. They look at you as a 'chronic' who can't be satisfied with the relief you get.

You can get to the point where you look around and think that nobody understands what you are going through and doesn't care anyway. This is a good breeding group for the depression soldiers to march right in and claim you. At one time I was prescribed so many medications from a doctor at a pain clinic that I couldn't think straight. I wrote a check for $800 for an $80 bill.  Then when I could not deal with being this disjointed, I went off them. Once again I promptly became surrounded by pain and became depressed. I was very frustrated that there seemed to be no real effort to get me on the right combinations of medications which would let me continue to function.

Believe me; I know that anyone experiencing chronic pain can come to feel totally alone in the suffering.  Sooner or later you will run into someone who questions that you could have that much pain. Your quality of life is changed dramatically.  I was always a very athletic person who loved to be physically active. When I had to slow down I resented it because I was giving up a very important part of my life.