Can Chronic Pain Affect Your Mental Health?

The short answer is yes. Chances are you or someone you know is living with chronic pain and coping with some type of mental health disorder like depression. Did you know that pain is one of the top two reasons why people go to their doctor for medical care? According to the CDC, chronic pain has been linked to a variety of health concerns including:

• Inability to do daily activities
• Development of opioid dependence
• Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression
• Reduced quality of life

At Innovative Pain & Spine in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, our providers recognize that chronic pain can directly have an effect on a person’s mental health. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show a staggering number of people in the U.S. are suffering with both chronic pain and mental health disorders. More than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience chronic pain and 8% of adults have high-impact chronic pain. In addition, 84% of people with high-impact chronic pain can’t work outside of the home. It’s obvious that chronic pain conditions can easily cause mental health problems.

Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Mental Health

Depression and chronic pain share some of the same neurotransmitters that carry messages between nerves, and nerve pathways in the brain and spinal cord. 

Chronic pain is both an emotional and physical condition that affects your thoughts, moods, and overall behavior. Often, chronic pain can cause people to stop doing activities and interacting with others, be unable to sleep, struggle with relationships, and have problems in their workplace. This can lead to them falling deeper into depression and a dependency on pharmaceutical medications. 

It’s no surprise that the relationship between chronic pain and mental health has become a significant health issue in the U.S. Studies show that individuals with chronic pain also suffer from anxiety, depression, suicide, and addiction or overdose tendencies. They are:

• 3 times more likely to develop depression and anxiety than those without chronic pain
• More likely to misuse prescription opioids which contributes to 17,000 overdose deaths annually
• 2 times greater risk of suicide

Managing Chronic Pain and Depression Simultaneously

Pain can be overwhelming and lead to depression, and depression causes and intensifies pain. It can become a vicious cycle with no end in sight. Approximately 65% of individuals living with chronic pain complain of being depressed, which often is overlooked and doesn’t get treated because the focus is concentrated on relieving the pain. That’s why it’s critical to the well-being of the patient to treat chronic pain and depression simultaneously.

At Innovative Pain & Spine, we work with a multidisciplinary team that includes pain management specialists, behavioral health specialists, rehabilitation, and other alternative healthcare providers who work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all of the health concerns of the patient affected by the chronic pain. We treat each patient individually and are committed to helping them manage their pain and depression so they can return to functioning and having a better quality of life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic pain and a mental health disorder, and have not found results with treatments, contact Innovative Pain & Spine at 402-413-5010. We can help you get back to living life again.