Chronic Pain and Depression Often Go Hand in Hand

March 11th, 2007

If you’ve ever experienced chronic pain (lasting more than six months), you were probably depressed. Pain and depression can form a vicious cycle, with one fueling the other. When your quality of life takes a big nosedive, you generally get depressed. If a significant disability is also involved, your chances of depression are even greater.

Most physicians who treat patients with chronic pain also treat the depression that usually accompanies it. Your internist may wish to give you a prescription or refer you to a psychiatrist. Sometimes you may be referred to a licensed â€œbehavioral medicineâ€ specialist. So-called cognitive therapy classes may be especially useful in helping you find new ways of thinking and thus reduce your pain levels.

Talk therapy usually takes a back seat to prescription antidepressants these days. In fact, sometimes talking about your pain can actually make it worse because you focus on it more. Antidepressant medications are often a primary treatment for depression, especially when chronic pain syndromes or nerve-related disorders are involved.

The earlier your depression is treated, the better the outcome can be. Early diagnosis and appropriate medications can reduce distress and even prevent suicide, in many cases. Those receiving treatment for depression that takes place while experiencing chronic pain often have an improvement in their overall medical condition.

Antidepressants work by altering certain chemical levels in the brain. It may take a while to find a particular antidepressant with minimal side-effects that works well for you. Every person experiences pain and reacts to medications differently. Among the antidepressants which are commonly prescribed today are the following:

Celexa
Prozac
Zoloft
Elavil
Norpramin
Effexor
Serzone
Wellbutrin
Cymbalta
Paxil
Remeron

If you are depressed about a serious, life-changing event or due to severe, unremitting pain and disability, you should consult a physician about treating your depression.

Source: WebMD