There are dozens of causes of chronic pain, which include:

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Arthritis
• Back injuries
• Tendonitis/joint pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Old injuries or scars
• Fibromyalgia and other neurological disorders

Major/Clinical Depression

Medical researchers estimate that about one-fifth of all adults in the United States have experienced major depression in their lives. Clinical depression is a serious illness, and anyone who suspects that they are suffering from major depression should seek medical advice right away.

While major depression is seemingly easy to self-diagnose, it is important that a professional examination be conducted to rule out other issues, and to chart a course towards treatment and health.

Left untreated, clinical depression can lead to:

• Irritability/anger/constant “short fuse”
• Alcohol abuse
• Abuse of other substances, including illegal narcotics and pharmaceutical medicines
• Loss of job or placement in school
• Breaking off ties with family, friends, and loved ones
• Violence, including homicide
• Suicide

Treatment Options

Although there is no magic bullet “cure” for chronic pain or major depression, health sciences have made a number of recent breakthroughs that can help sufferers get relief.

As with all serious illnesses and conditions, only a medical professional can diagnose and design a course of treatment for someone suffering from chronic pain and depression. Here are a few options that people are using to reduce or eliminate the pain and suffering that accompanies chronic pain and depression:

• Psychological counseling and therapy
• Exercise
• Light therapy
• Pharmaceutical medications
• Dietary supplements
• Anger management counseling
• Building a support network of friends, fellow sufferers, and healthcare professionals
• Guided sessions with a member of the clergy
• Learning to eat healthier
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Sleeping enough – and learning how to obtain a refreshing night’s sleep
• Meditation
• Educating yourself on your condition
• Going on vacation
• Volunteering
• Keeping a positive attitude
• Losing unnecessary weight
• Helping other people and the community at large
• Adopting and/or spending time with an animal
• Removing sources of stress from your life
• Getting treatment for alcohol/drug abuse and becoming abstinent from other addictive substances and/or behaviors

The good news is that no one has to suffer alone from chronic pain and depression, as help is out there.

The post Chronic Pain and Depression appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.

Although millions of people around the world suffer from chronic pain, it continues to frustrate both scientists and outsiders alike as there is yet no reliable way to objectively identify and measure pain.

What is chronic pain?

All of us experience pain at one time or another, usually as the result of an injury or illness. Pain is our body’s natural way of quickly informing us that something is causing us damage. Most of the time, thankfully, the pain disappears as soon as the injury heals or the source of damage is removed.

Chronic pain refers to a condition in which pain levels fluctuate up and down, but never permanently disappear. Every day becomes a struggle to manage a normal life while dealing with the invisible, hidden foe of chronic pain.

While some people suffer chronic pain as part of an as-of-yet unidentified syndrome or ailment, below are a few of the most common causes of chronic pain:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Most commonly seen today in office workers and people who spend extended hours typing on a keyboard, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers to a condition in which a the median nerve fibers in your wrist have become injured.

Suffers of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome usually first realize that there is a problem when they experience tingling, a “pins and needles” feeling, or numbness in the affected hand and/or wrist. Damage to this cluster of nerve fibers, especially over time, causes swelling in the affected area, and can cause years of chronic pain. Thankfully, there are a number of therapeutic treatments, as well as medications and surgery, that can reduce the swelling in the nerves and bring relief to the chronic pain.

If you, or someone you know, has been experiencing an unusual feeling in their hands and/or wrists, and suspect that they may be suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it is important to contact your doctor at once. As with most illnesses, early detection and treatment is always best.

Headaches and Migraines:

Although most of us have experienced strong headaches, or the occasional migraine, as part of the natural course of our hectic lives, chronic cranial pain can cause severe suffering for some people.

The causes, and treatments for, persistent headaches and/or migraines are varied and far too many to list here. The good news is that neurologists have recently made some important breakthroughs in eliminating and sometimes even permanently reducing chronic cranial pain. Stress reduction techniques, yoga, tai chi, light therapy, and a number of other natural solutions are now available for people who suffer from chronic cranial pain.

Tendinitis:

Sometimes spelled “tendonitis,” this term refers to the inflammation or damage to a tendon, one of the thick elastic cords that connect our muscles to our bones.

A wide variety of things can cause tendinitis, but usually this happens after a physical injury or from repetitive motion activities. Even seemingly simple activities like gardening or golfing can, over time, lead to inflammation and injury of a tendon, and cause sometimes quite severe chronic pain.

Note: if you are normally sedentary during the week, but engage in vigorous sports or other physical activities on the weekend, it is important to guard against damaging your tendons. Consult with your doctor or a fitness expert to develop a series of stretching and warm-up exercises to help you avoid causing unnecessary damage to your tendons.

If you are experiencing chronic pain of any kind, it’s important to see a doctor at once for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan to help you back onto the path of a pain free lifestyle.

The post Chronic Pain: Symptoms and Conditions appeared first on SmartChoiceMD.