Depression Can Lead To Chronic Back Pain

 

 

Clinical researchers have known that chronic back pain can lead to major depression, but  newer studies are looking at how depression and anxiety may be linked to the onset of a back pain problem.

Depression impacts spine surgery outcome

Research has clearly demonstrated that depression, anxiety, thought patterns, and personality style can impact a spine surgery outcome. Unfortunately, it appears that in many cases, having a major depression may not bode well for the outcome of a spine surgery.

For instance, spine surgery patients who are clinically depressed pre-operatively may continue to display depressive symptoms post-operatively and these can negatively impact the surgery outcome. Particular symptoms that may impede post-operative recovery include such things as low motivation, sleep disturbance, slower healing time, difficulty with physical rehabilitation and inability to perceive improvements.

Pre-surgery considerations for patients with depression

It is important to consider whether the individual is experiencing a "reactive depression" or shows a pre-injury history of more chronic depression. A reactive depression is defined as depressive symptoms in response to the chronic back pain and associated problems (loss of work, friends, etc). Reactive depression occurs in back pain patients who have no previous history of depression.

However, many chronic back pain patients have a history of problems with depression even before the onset of the back pain. As reviewed previously, individuals with chronic depression may be at greater risk for developing a low back pain condition. It is also likely that this same group is at greater risk for a poorer outcome to spine surgery.

If a patient is facing a spine surgery and has a chronic back pain problem with significant depression, he or she may want to consider postponing the surgery until the depression can be treated. Treatment for depression is often part of a preparation for spine surgery program.