Living with chronic pain is not easy. It is estimated that 1 in 4 adults in the United States experience lasting pain due to an injury or chronic condition. For those affected by a medical condition that causes chronic pain, read on to learn the impact chronic pain can have on mental health and for information on treatment options.
What Are The Causes Of Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain persists for months at a time or even years. While pain from a recent injury, illness, or surgery can typically be expected to subside after the underlying cause was treated, chronic pain continues past the usual recovery period. Chronic pain can also occur due to a chronic health condition. Common causes of chronic pain include:
- Headaches and migraines
- Back and neck pain
- Joint pain from arthritis
- Fibromyalgia and other types of muscle pain
- Pain from damage to the nerves or parts of the nervous system
- Recurrent pain in scar tissue
- Pain from a tumor in cancer patients
People experience pain when specific nerves detect damage to body tissue and transmit information about this damage. These pain signals travel from the spinal cord to the brain. Everyone experiences pain differently, depending on their sensitivity and the cause of the pain. People who live with chronic pain have described their pain with terms such as stiffness, stinging, throbbing, shooting, squeezing, burning, or aching.
How Are Chronic Pain And Mental Health Connected?
Chronic pain can have an impact on someone’s enjoyment of daily life and affect their productivity and goals. For example, due to pain and limited mobility, someone with osteoarthritis may experience difficulty completing daily tasks or become uninterested in going out and socializing. Increased isolation due to chronic pain can have a negative effect on one’s mental health. For these reasons, people who live with chronic pain can be more vulnerable to mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
The emotional toll of chronic pain cannot be understated. People with chronic pain who have yet to find effective ways to manage their pain may feel frustrated, angry, and anxious. Experiencing chronic pain can also affect someone’s sleep schedule and cause increased stress levels. The stress of both living with and experiencing chronic pain can unfortunately worsen pain. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol can rise, causing inflammation in the body. Muscles can become more tense or spasm because of stress. Without adequate rest and treatment, stress can make existing chronic pain worse.
If You Have Chronic Pain, Know You Have Treatment Options
If you have chronic pain and feel that it is impacting your mental health, talk to your doctor. It is important for you to know you have treatment options. Every day, there are new advances in medical science and technology, and potential breakthroughs from unconventional methods such as ketamine infusion therapy for chronic pain. The process of finding the right treatment method can be frustrating, but both support and relief are out there.
At MVM Health, we are glad to offer neuromodulation treatments, interventional pain procedures, and minimally-invasive procedures. If chronic pain affects your daily life, it may be time to seek professional care. Our team of experts in Marlboro, NJ can evaluate your situation, discuss treatment options, and guide you on your healing journey. For patients in Pennsylvania, MVM Health also serves East Stroudsburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Lehigh Valley. Call 223-213-2084 to request an appointment.
