Depression Archives - Michigan Spine & Pain

Is Pain Making You Tired?

Pain and fatigue often go hand in hand, especially when there is chronic, long-term pain. The exhaustion and weakness that can accompany pain may develop slowly or appear suddenly. When developing a pain management strategy, coping with fatigue should also be part of the plan.

Here are some factors that contribute to the pain/fatigue cycle, and tips for how to break free:

Physical Stress

Use it or lose it…

Reducing your physical activity because of pain can weaken muscles and make you tire more easily. Talk with your pain management team and work out a realistic exercise and activity plan.

Tip: Enlist friends and family to help you achieve your activity goals and help you regain your confidence. A walk with a friend seems shorter than a trudge alone. Just remember to be realistic and tell them when need to stop and rest.

You don’t move like you used to…

Whether you’re limited by an injury, living with arthritis pain, or recovering from surgery, pain can cause you to adjust the way you move. This can create unusual stress on muscles and joints and cause more pain – and more fatigue.

Tip: Be aware of how you position your body whether you are moving or at rest. If, for example, you are favoring an injured knee, be aware that the other knee is now taking on more than its usual share of the load and will tire more easily – and be more prone to injury.

Play now, pay later…

Overdoing it can increase both pain and fatigue. Learn your limits and adjust your activity accordingly. Don’t let overexertion on a “good day” lead to a series of “bad days.”

Tip: Pay attention to the signals your body sends you and don’t try to push past your limit. Discuss any problems or setbacks with your medical team. Don’t wear yourself out trying to prevent fatigue!

Emotional Stress

Emotional stress can also contribute to fatigue. Injuries can change your everyday life in an instant. You feel a loss of control and the burden of adjusting your lifestyle during treatment and recovery. Long term pain can be emotionally as well as physically draining. Depression is a common, and serious, side effect of chronic pain. Depression can contribute to fatigue and fatigue can feed the powerless feelings that lead to depression. It’s important to break that cycle.

Tip: Do what makes you happy. Stay connected with family and friends. Continue activities that give you joy. If you find yourself avoiding the people and activities that you previously enjoyed, talk to your doctor right away.

Hidden dangers…

Finally, keep an open dialogue with your doctor about any new (or increasing) weakness or fatigue to make sure there aren’t any underlying illnesses or health conditions responsible. Don’t assume that pain alone is the culprit.

Here are some factors that contribute to the pain/fatigue cycle, and tips for how to break free:

Physical Stress

Use it or lose it…

Reducing your physical activity because of pain can weaken muscles and make you tire more easily. Talk with your pain management team and work out a realistic exercise and activity plan.

You don’t move liked to… you use

Play now, pay later…

Overdoing it can increase both pain and fatigue. Learn your limits and adjust your activity accordingly. Don’t let overexertion on a “good day” lead to a series of “bad days.”

Emotional Stress

Hidden dangers…

Invisible Pain and Society Reactions

Oftentimes there is lifestyle difficulty that comes with chronic pain. People have difficulty with the expectations put upon them in society, and they also have to deal with their personal pain and suffering.

Many are taught to push aside illness and to “grin and bare it,” especially when the problem is not visible to the outside world. We often deal with invisible sources of pain—at least to the naked eye. A person suffering with chronic pain may look completely healthy to the outside world, yet be suffering terribly. Additionally, pain levels are not always static; one day may bring terrible pain and the next may be tolerable or very little. Sometimes it is one activity versus a different activity that causes a variance in pain.

There are many stories of isolation due to pain. Both physical isolation because of physical limitations and emotional isolation. Often a patient becomes isolated or depressed because their non-visible pain is mocked, or disregarded by family, friends and associates.

People may have the best of intentions, however in the general population, the concept of pain is one that is caused by an illness or injury, and then dissipates when the patient is cured or healed. This is not the case with chronic pain sufferers. Their pain may not leave and may worsen. This seems illogical to people and it may cause them to be insensitive.

Furthermore, neither age, nor race, nor socioeconomic status is a determinant of chronic pain. Anyone may suffer, although society tends to expect certain populations, such as the elderly, to be those typically suffering with pain.

We can help anyone with their pain related problems. At Michigan Spine and Pain we have a tremendous amount of resources to help patients with pain that is chronic, visible, invisible….anything. Let us help you reduce your pain. Call us anytime at 800-586-7992 or contact us HERE.

When SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Brings You Down

photo by Lee Coursey

Did you make it outside this past weekend? We hope so. There was a small window of opportunity on Saturday: the sun was out, there was no precipitation and the roads and sidewalks were largely dry and clear.

Some of us had been chomping at the bit to get outside and walk or even jog. We needed to be in the air, in the light. Indeed, we Michiganders suffer from a sunlight deficit during the long winter months. For some, this light deprivation is an annoyance or even a downer. But for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this time of year brings on a specific form of depression with its own symptoms and its own treatment.

SAD has similar symptoms from other forms of depression, including:

Sluggishness
Weight loss or weight gain
Lack of interest in activities that typically bring you joy
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or
Sleeping and napping far more than usual
Social withdrawal or seclusion
Thoughts of harming yourself or others (If this symptom occurs, seek help immediately.)

Treating SAD:

Consult your health care team to determine the possible physical causes of your suffering.
Certain medications can alleviate the symptoms of SAD, including classic anti-depressants. In addition, melatonin can be helpful in regulating sleep.
Talk therapy is extremely beneficial.
Stay busy through your work, through volunteer opportunities and by following through on your family responsibilities.
Take advantage of any occasion for natural light. Be sure you are awake during the day and get outside, even if it’s cold, for an invigorating walk or even as a passenger in a car.
Consider purchasing special light boxes that are used to treat SAD. Light therapy involves sitting by the light box which mimics sunlight and can “reset” your biological feelings of light deprivation.
Appropriate sleep is critical. Do not allow yourself to be sleep-deprived. On the other hand, you must pull yourself out of bed and avoid over-sleeping.
Take care of your body with healthy, nutritious food and regular exercise. Depressed people derive great benefit from vigorous cardiovascular exercise, where endorphins are produced.
Avoid self-medicating through drugs or alcohol.

The good news for all of us is that the days are slowly getting longer and the sunlight will return!

Gratitude for Pain?

Photo by Julie Jordan Scott; https://www.flickr.com/photos/juliejordanscott/5982073991

It seems crazy to be thankful for the pain we suffer. Who would want to be thankful for chronic or acute pain?

We have patients who have told us some of the actual ways that pain has changed their lives for the better. Here are some of their anecdotes with their names changed to protect their privacy:

“Susie” has suffered cluster headaches on and off. She told us how her headaches forced her to simplify her life, creating working hours that were more nine to five and giving her the ability to say “no” to commitments that before, she felt obligated to say “yes” to.

“Jack” is a recent back pain sufferer. In the past, he used to have a frenetic schedule, filled with things that he loved, like time with friends and family and things that made him less than thrilled like constant errands, work-related socialization and a house he was renovating for resale. When his back problems began, he hired contractors to do the house renovation. He realized that he really could find others to do some of the physical work that he couldn’t rely on himself to do anymore, pain-free. The monetary cost was worth his heath, he decided. Now, Jack is more willing to delegate certain tasks to a select group of people whose standards match his.

“Evelyn” retired years ago, but her fibromyalgia has become more complex. She related to us that lots of things used to bug her in the past: slights from relatives and friends, minor spats with her husband over chores and bills and waiting in lines or on hold. Now that she has to treat herself with kid gloves, slowing down, not overdoing it and being really planful of her time, these things seem much less important than her overall health and well being.

We don’t wish pain on anyone. But we have seen that patients who are able to be positive even as they experience pain are typically motivated to live full, meaningful lives. Furthermore, they are excellent partners with their health care team as we work together towards their recovery and healing.

Pain in America is Killing Middle Aged Adults

For every modern country in the world, great strides have been made in increasing the longevity of people’s lives. This is due in large part to better rates of survival due to treatment improvements in major traditional killers like cancer and heart disease as well as a decrease in smoking rates.

In the past several decades, a great deal of research and health advocacy has focused on gaps in health populations. Most notably, African Americans, particularly African American men, live shorter lives than their white, Hispanic and Asian counterparts, but this gap has been slowly shrinking.

But now, there is a new gap to worry about, and it is surprising: white American middle-aged people with less than a college education. The research has been conducted by economists Angus Deaton and his wife Anne Case, professors at Princeton. They have presented their findings and were published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Since 1999, the death rate for this group has been steadily rising.

Here are the facts and figures.

For white men and women, ages 45-64, their mortality rate has risen by .5% per year from 1999-2013.
This was a dramatic change. Prior to 1999, the mortality rate had been dropping by 2% per year.
It appears that illness plays a role, but the major culprits seem to be: suicide, alcohol abuse and substance abuse, particularly illicit drugs.
This increased mortality adds up to 500,000 people, who would otherwise be alive, a true epidemic.

At the heart of these statistics lies one serious issue: pain.

It appears that chronic physical and psychological pain is affecting this age group dramatically. This epidemic of chronic pain in middle age white Americans snowballs into a large-scale health crisis, one that is getting worse. This chronic pain is then leading to a whole series of terrible events:

Those in pain are abusing legal and illegal drugs at higher frequencies.
Alcoholism rates are increasing in this population. Indeed there has been a sharp uptick in diseases that are caused by alcohol, particularly cirrhosis of the liver.
In the most tragic cases, these men and women are taking their own lives, feeling hopeless and in constant pain.

Deaton and Case found that respondents of this age group who complained of being in pain were at a heightened risk for suicide.

Of special note is the increased mortality of women in this group, who typically had greater longevity than their male counterparts. Their mortality worsened even more than then the men’s.

Deaton and Case were not looking for these results. They stumbled upon them as they were researching government statistics on mortality. When they first realized the dramatic increase, they assumed there had been a mistake.

They admit that their research doesn’t have the answers, but it does pose significant questions about the overall health of those who are within shouting distance of retirement and Medicare. Are these middle-agers approaching retirement in much less healthy form than those who have preceded them? What are the implications for this age group, if they survive, enter retirement, possibly with pain, addictions and psychiatric illness accompanying them into what should be their golden years? How can this epidemic be short circuited? It appears that heroin plays a large role in these deaths; what can be done to break the addiction to heroin?

Click to read Angus Deaton and Anne Case’s paper presented to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

September is Pain Awareness Month

If you are reading this, you may already be WELL AWARE of pain.

Pain Awareness Month, truthfully, is directed at the general public and all of the health care providers, as well as family members of those who suffer from pain.

The messages of Pain Awareness Month:

The Cost of Pain:

Did you know that chronic pain affects 100 million Americans, more than cancer and heart disease combined?
Chronic pain is a leading cause of employee absenteeism.

The Impact of Pain on Quality of Life:

Pain can adversely impact a person, and limit their ability to work, to socialize and to form and maintain good relationships with family and friends.
Pain sufferers also report poor sleep, which exacerbates their pain and ability to function.
Pain and depression often co-exist.
Pain and anxiety can also co-exist.

Not Everybody Understands Pain:

Many health care providers “don’t get” pain, underestimating its intensity or impact.
Prescription pain management and proper use of prescription medication complicates the treatment of pain.

Ways to celebrate this month:

Share your pain story with others. Tell those who don’t understand pain how you cope, what works and what your struggles are. Your goal is to educate those around you about this seemingly invisible illness. Make it visible!
Take time to take care of yourself. Lead your friends and neighbors in a restorative walk. Host a healthy potluck. Get together with pain sufferers and non-pain sufferers to share how you get through tough times.
Take time to learn, taking advantage of resources on our website as well as with our knowledgeable staff. We can recommend lots of websites, books and magazines that we trust.

You are more than your pain. But your pain deserves to be acknowledged and treated.

Lincoln’s Legacy: His Greatest Battle was with Depression

On President’s Day, it is a good time to reflect on the life of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln appeared to suffer from clinical depression, and yet others were drawn to him. Amazingly for Lincoln’s time, those around him accepted his dark moods and did not stigmatize his mental illness. Had his peers and family rejected Lincoln’s depression, we may have been robbed of one of our greatest leaders ever.

Lincoln certainly faced unspeakable personal trials and probably the greatest challenges any U.S. president has ever had to face: the literal break-up of the nation. These facts alone would give him permission to be “down” sometimes. But Lincoln, just like many who face depression, would even be gloomy at what would seem to others the happiest of times: his first triumphant nomination for President, for instance.

Lincoln’s dark moods were infamous. His friends called him melancholy. He was known to cry in public and to even talk about suicide. Lincoln told a confidante that he didn’t carry a knife in his pocket, because he was afraid of the consequences. When Lincoln’s friends feared for his safety, they would band together to check in on him regularly.

Lincoln’s depression besieged him before effective drug therapy or talking therapy were helpful or even in vogue and so he did not have these in his arsenal in his great battle.

But Lincoln’s depression did endow him with three incredible gifts: the need for introspection, the desire to be productive and compassion for those who suffered.

What is most inspiring is how Lincoln used his depression to actually do great things. Lincoln would spend time in solitude, because he just couldn’t handle having to deal with people. It was during these introspective times that Lincoln worked out complex problems and heart-wrenching decisions. Lincoln’s wisdom actually was an outgrowth of his aloneness, which was a result of his depression. Perhaps his depression created an inward thinking process that allowed him to be a visionary.

Lincoln also had a great desire to accomplish something and to find some meaning in his life, even if it sometimes felt like torture. In order to be productive, Lincoln began to establish daily routines of learning, of working, of doing. He discovered, as so many who suffer from depression do, that having a routine, whether it is work, voluntarism or just a daily task list, forces a person to just keep going on, despite the brain’s message to quit or ruminate.

Finally, Lincoln’s depression gave him insight into all who suffer. It appears that his adversity gave him the strength to battle the evil spread of slavery, when others could allow it to continue to run its course. He truly believed in his cause, considering it a moral imperative.

For fascinating reading on Abraham Lincoln’s depression, we recommend Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness

1-800-586-7992

Is Pain Making You Tired?

Physical Stress

Use it or lose it…

You don’t move like you used to…

Play now, pay later…

Emotional Stress

Hidden dangers…

Physical Stress

Use it or lose it…

You don’t move liked to… you use

Play now, pay later…

Emotional Stress

Hidden dangers…

Invisible Pain and Society Reactions

When SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Brings You Down

Gratitude for Pain?

Pain in America is Killing Middle Aged Adults

September is Pain Awareness Month

Lincoln’s Legacy: His Greatest Battle was with Depression

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