Pain and depression usually go hand in hand. Chronic pain is described as pain that lasts for longer than three months (it extends beyond the usual healing time for an illness or injury).

On average, 30-50% of people with chronic pain suffer from depression.

Depression can cause pain — and pain can cause depression. This can create a vicious cycle in which pain worsens the symptoms of depression, and then the resulting depression worsens feelings of pain.

In many people, depression causes symptoms such as:

• lack of interest in activities
• depressed mood or irritability
• changes in sleep patterns
• changes in appetite
• feelings of helplessness/despair
• lack of energy
• trouble concentrating

For example, if arthritis is contributing to the pain, then treating the pain itself with non-invasive therapies (non-surgical disc restoration, laser therapy, electromedicine, etc…) may improve the depression. Non-Surgical therapy is a drug-free and completely non-invasive treatment that has the ability to help the person return physically and mentally to their well-being and regain their quality of life.

Pain and the problems it causes can wear you down over time and affect your mood. Disabling pain can cause low self-esteem due to mobility issues, work or financial issues, and/or the inability to participate in social activities and hobbies. Chronic pain also carries a hefty price tag. In the United States, yearly healthcare bills due to pain average $600 billion a year as well as lost time from work.

Just because pain is invisible doesn’t mean that it isn’t real or that it can’t be treated.