Chronic Pain and Depression: How is the Spine Involved?
You might think that depression is a solely psychological condition. However, chronic pain and depression are inextricably linked. Did you know that back pain sufferers are four times as likely to suffer from depression? Unfortunately, these two problems often reinforce each other in a vicious cycle.
The first instinct many people have when they’re diagnosed with depression is to seek medication. And while many times this is the right choice, it’s also important to look at what you could be doing to address catalysts for that depression. If your depression is linked to chronic pain, a good place to start seeking wellness could be your local chiropractor.
The team at Stability Health Center provides high-level care for patients in the Seattle, WA area suffering from chronic back pain. We take a holistic approach to wellness that starts with restoring spinal integrity, to raise the quality of life of those with ongoing pain concerns.
What is the connection between back pain and depression?
Roughly 3 to 5 percent of all Americans suffer from depression. Half of these patients also report anxiety. An almost equal number also admit feeling stressed. The list of conditions correlated with depression go on and on, and they illustrate an important trend. There’s more to depression than just a “case of the blues.”
It’s no surprise that among some of the most heavily correlated conditions is chronic pain, often cited in the back or neck. And, when you look closer, it’s not hard to see why depression goes hand in hand with pain. Just imagine waking up each and every day and knowing you’re going to suffer.
The symptoms that accompany back pain also make it more likely that patients will suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. For example, back pain often causes patients to lose sleep. It can also cause a limited range of motion, making everyday life more difficult. Back pain is even correlated to gastrointestinal diseases. The combination of so many factors absolutely has an impact on mental wellness.
How can chiropractic help me?
Patients often turn to psychiatric therapy and prescription drugs to ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is a step in the right direction and can help address the immediate condition. However, if the root cause is chronic back pain, another step might be needed to regain healthfulness: a chiropractic consultation. A trained chiropractor can discuss symptoms with you, provide a full evaluation, and determine a course of treatment if you do, in fact, have a spinal condition.
Often, compressed or damaged nerves in the back are responsible for back pain. Adjustments can be useful for realigning vertebral discs and restoring nerve pathways. Chiropractic is a natural, conservative, relatively inexpensive way to address chronic pain problems. All the following positive outcomes are possible through chiropractic:
- Increased blood flow;
- Reduced pain;
- Improved stability and balance;
- Increased clarity;
- Increased muscle and joint function.
Through eliminating physical pain, it’s possible to address mental health issues, too. A better physical quality of life can correlate to better mental fortitude, just as the inverse is true.
Trust the seasoned team at Stability Health Center in Seattle, WA to provide you with chiropractic adjustments if you’re a chronic back pain sufferer. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and to learn more about Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP). We believe no one should live in chronic pain, which is why we work with all of our patients to get to the bottom of their individual spinal health.
Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.
