Feeling down because you struggle with back pain is not uncommon. Slipping into depression as a result of your pain is a deeper issue and there is definitely a correlation between the two. At Chattanooga Non-Surgical Orthopedics we return our patients to vital health and peace of mind when they struggle with these pain-related issues, but there is much to learn about the connection between depression and pain.

Here are some facts:

• Depression increases low back pain disability:  Studies show that the combination of chronic back pain and depression are associated with greater disability than either depression or chronic back pain alone.
• Depression increases incidence of low back pain: Statistics also show that people experiencing depression are four times more likely to have low back pain and two-thirds of people seeking treatment for low back pain also suffer from depression.¹
• Depression increases severity of low back pain: The severity of a person’s depression has a linear relationship to the intensity of their low back pain.
• Depression Increases risks for low back pain: Studies show that depression is a major risk factor that significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing both an acute back injury and chronic low back pain.

Knowing about research and statistics are not going to solve your pain problems and keep you from depression. However, our patients at Chattanooga Non-Surgical Orthopedics have been finding help and healing at the source of their pain issues, and if their pain is causing their depression, or worsening their existing depression, we believe dealing with the source of their pain is a huge part of the answer. 

While we can’t necessarily stop or cure depression, our many programs like Clinical Exercise, Non-Surgical Knee, and Regenerative Medicine are all geared toward decreasing and eliminating pain without prescription medication and surgery.

Contact us today for an appointment to discuss your specific needs today!

423-499-0003

¹ Sullivan MJ, Reesor K, Mikail S, Fisher R. The treatment of depression in chronic low back pain: Review and recommendations. Pain. 1992;52:249. Sinel MS, Deardorff WW, Goldstein TB. In: Win the Battle Against Back Pain: An  Integrated Mind-Body Approach. New York: Bantam-Doubleday-Dell. 1996.