December 08, 2015

Depression.

Big word. Big issue. Little discussion. Lots of hope.

Johnson Chiropractic sees depression in the Richmond back pain and neck pain sufferers seeking relief of their short-term and long-term chronic pain. Depression is common especially in long-standing struggles with spine pain. Johnson Chiropractic wants our Richmond chiropractic patients to know that they are not alone, that there is hope, that depression doesn’t have to be a permanent state. It just takes recognition and a willingness to share the struggle of depression with your Richmond chiropractor to take step toward a better life outlook without depression.

47% of patients with cervical spine or lumbar spine disc herniation report at least one mood or anxiety disorder. 16.6% report mood disorders and 35.8% report anxiety disorders. Interestingly, pain severity doesn’t seem to affect either of these disorders, but neurological deficits were associated with both. (1) Johnson Chiropractic looks for all of these issues and more when we see Richmond neck pain and back pain patients.

Other spine related issues that may affect mood, anxiety and depressed feeling are vertebral fractures. These are common as one in 5 men and women over 50 years of age has at least one of these fractures. They may result in acute and chronic pain as well as decrease your experience of quality of life. (2) So Johnson Chiropractic will look for symptoms of these fractures during the Richmond chiropractic exam. The earlier it’s addressed, the better.

Low back pain is the single most common cause for disability in individuals aged 45 years or younger and as a result carries tremendous weight in socioeconomic considerations. (3) When back pain hits in these middle age years when the stressors of life are high, it’s fertile ground for depression. One study shares that women (11%) more than men (4%) who have spinal pain also experience psychological distress. (4) Male or female, Richmond back pain sufferers are prone to have down days.

So contact Johnson Chiropractic today for whole person Richmond chiropractic care. Certainly, depression does make coping with low back pain more difficult. (5) Discussing when depression is a problem for you may help. Talk with Johnson Chiropractic at your next Richmond chiropractic visit. There is hope for relief of pain and its related depression.