Is Chronic Back Pain Related to Depression? Posted: 02-26-06 08:51am
Hello
First I'd like to thank you for having
this option to ask a medical question, eve
if you are unable to get back to me, I
still appreciate it. My problem concerns a
chronic pain in my upper back and each
side just below my chest and above my
stomach. This has been going on for a good
six months, having started some time in
August of last year. Originally the pain
was in the left side of my rib cage but
has since escalated and begun 'moving'
around. IE one day the left side of my
upper back might hurt, the next my right
might. Or if my back doesn't hurt, my
sides will be hurting. Plus the pain or
ache 'changes' constantly, sometimes it's
a stabbing ache, other times it feels like
my muscles are in a wrack, being stretched
tight, others it's the odd intense
sour/sour sensation that gets so bad
sometimes I don't feel like eating.
I used to do stretches that seemed to calm
it down, but now they only make it worse.
Or rather, I'll be fine doing the
stretches but later at night or in the
afternoon I'll get that horrible sore/sour
feeling and I'll be bedridden all night
most likely. To make matters worse I've
developed aches in my lower back, the
areas around my waist, the front and back
of my neck, my arms...just basically
everywhere almost. Sometimes the aches
remind me of flu symptoms, but I don't
have a fever. This really stresses me out
sometimes, as I suffer from depression to
and these pains have really made me feel
so utterly hopeless.
I've seen doctors, but they haven't been
much help. They tell me it's either due to
stress or depression, to take some Tylenol
and exercise to help. But exercising just
seems to make it worse, and I'm worried if
I take Tylenol too much I'll get immune to
it (I'm sorry if that sounds stupid.)
besides, it's just a temporary solution,
the pain always comes back anyway.
I'm just really scared and hopeless about
this whole thing, sometimes I just don't
want tog et out of bed. But I know if I
rest too long that'll just make it
worse...but then again everything seems to
make it worse. I have one of those
mattress things that has those
groove-things which are supposed to be
good for your back, but it doesn't seem to
be helping at all. I haven't had a good
nights sleep in ages because I worry so
much, and I swear even when I'm asleep I
can remember worrying about this problem
when I wake up.
Is there any specialist I should see? Any
tests I should get done? I don't have any
health insurance and I'm unemployed, so
I'm not even sure I could do the tests
even if I know what ones to do. Any advice
would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
-Kenny
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Back Pain Answer A890 Posted: 05-22-06 04:56am
Such unusual symptoms (chronic pain in the
upper back, chest, and stomach...flu-like
symptoms) can be best explained in terms
of understanding depressive disorder. It
doesn’t seem likely that you need any
tests. Perhaps you would, instead, benefit
from psycho-therapy and/or a prescription
for pharmaceutical antidepressants.
New-generation antidepressants include
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
can can be given under the direction of a
psychiatrist. You can explore all options
in both allopathic and naturopathic
medicine to help you cope with the
possibly accumulative and progressive
symptoms of depression.
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