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Living with chronic pain should be enough of a burden for anybody. But pile on depression — one of the most common problems faced by people with chronic pain — and that burden gets even heavier.

Depression can magnify pain, and make it harder to cope. The good news is that chronic pain and depression aren’t inseparable. Effective treatments can relieve depression and make chronic pain more tolerable.

Chronic Pain and Depression: A Terrible Twosome

If you have chronic pain and depression, you’ve got plenty of company. That’s because chronic pain and depression are common problems that often overlap. Depression is one of the most common psychological issues facing people who suffer from chronic pain, and it often complicates the patient’s conditions and treatment. Consider these statistics:

• According to the American Pain Foundation, about 32 million people in the U.S. report pain lasting longer than one year.
• From one-quarter to more than half of patients who complain of pain to their physicians are depressed.
• On average, 65% of depressed people also complain of pain.
• People whose pain limits their independence are especially likely to get depressed.

Because depression in patients with chronic pain frequently goes undiagnosed, it often goes untreated. Pain symptoms and complaints take center stage on most doctors’ visits. The result is depression, along with sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, lack of energy, and decreased physical activity which may make pain much worse.

“Chronic pain and depression go hand in hand,” says Steven Feinberg, MD, adjunct associate clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. “You almost have to assume a person with chronic pain is depressed and begin there.”

Chronic Pain and Depression: A Vicious Cycle

Pain provokes an emotional response in everyone. Anxiety, irritability, and agitation — all these are normal feelings when we’re hurting. Normally, as pain subsides, so does the stressful response.

But what if the pain doesn’t go away? Over time, the constantly activated stress response can cause multiple problems associated with depression. Those problems can include:

• chronic anxiety
• confused thinking
• fatigue
• irritability
• sleep disturbances
• weight gain or loss

Some of the overlap between depression and chronic pain can be explained by biology. Depression and chronic pain share some of the same neurotransmitters — the chemical messengers traveling between nerves. They also share some of the same nerve pathways.

The impact of chronic pain on a person’s life overall also contributes to depression.

“The real pain comes from the losses” caused by chronic pain, according to Feinberg. “Losing a job, losing respect as a functional person, loss of sexual relations, all these make people depressed.”

Once depression sets in, it magnifies the pain that is already there. “Depression adds a double whammy to chronic pain by reducing the ability to cope,” says Beverly E. Thorn, professor of psychology at the University of Alabama and author of the book Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain.

Research has compared people with chronic pain and depression to those who only suffer chronic pain. Those with chronic pain and depression:

• report more intense pain
• feel less control of their lives
• use more unhealthy coping strategies

Because chronic pain and depression are so intertwined, depression and chronic pain are often treated together. In fact, some treatments can improve both chronic pain and depression.

Treating Chronic Pain and Depression: A “Whole-Life” Approach

Chronic pain and depression can affect a person’s entire life. Consequently, an ideal treatment approach addresses all the areas of one’s life affected by chronic pain and depression.

Because of the connection between chronic pain and depression, it makes sense that their treatments overlap.

Antidepressants

The fact that chronic pain and depression involve the same nerves and neurotransmitters means that antidepressants can be used to improve both chronic pain and depression.

“People hate to hear, ‘it’s all in your head.’ But the reality is, the experience of pain is in your head,” says Feinberg. “Antidepressants work on the brain to reduce the perception of pain.”

Tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil, Doxepin) have abundant evidence of effectiveness. However, because of side effects their use is often limited. Newer antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (Cymbalta, Effexor), on the other hand, seem to work well with fewer side effects.

Physical Activity

Many people with chronic pain avoid exercise. “They can’t differentiate chronic pain from the ‘good hurt’ of exercise,” says Feinberg. But, the less you do, the more out of shape you become. That means you have a higher risk of injury and worsened pain.

The key is to break this cycle. “We now know that gentle, regular physical activity is a crucial part of managing chronic pain,” says Thorn. Everyone with chronic pain can and should do some kind of exercise. Consult with a physician to design an exercise plan that’s safe and effective for you.

Exercise is also proven to help depression. “Physical activity releases the same kind of brain chemicals that antidepressant medications release — [it's] a natural antidepressant,” says Thorn.

Mental and Spiritual Health

Chronic pain affects your ability to live, work, and play the way you’re used to. This can change how you see yourself — sometimes for the worse.

“When somebody begins to take on the identity of a ‘disabled chronic pain patient,’ there is a real concern that they have sunk into the pain and become a victim,” says Thorn.

Fighting this process is a critical aspect of treatment. “People with chronic pain end up sitting around,” which leads to feeling passive, says Feinberg. “The best thing is for people to get busy, take control.”

Working with a health care provider who refuses to see you as a helpless victim is part of the formula for success. The goal is to replace the victim identity with one of a “well person with pain,” according to Thorn.

Treating Chronic Pain and Depression: Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain

Is there such a thing as “mind over matter”? Can you “think” your way out of feeling pain?

It may be hard to believe, but research clearly shows that for ordinary people, certain kinds of mental training truly improve chronic pain.

One approach is cognitive therapy. In cognitive therapy, a person learns to notice the negative “automatic thoughts” that surround the experience of chronic pain. These thoughts are often distortions of reality. Cognitive therapy can teach a person how to change these thought patterns and improve the experience of pain.

“The whole idea is that your thoughts and emotions have a profound impact on how you cope” with chronic pain, says Thorn. “There’s very good evidence that cognitive therapy can reduce the overall experience of pain.”

Cognitive therapy is also a proven treatment for depression. According to Thorn, cognitive therapy “reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety” in chronic pain patients.

In one study Thorn conducted, at the end of a 10-week cognitive therapy program, “95% of patients felt their lives were improved, and 50% said they had less pain.” She also says, “Many participants also reduced their need for medications.”

Treating Chronic Pain and Depression: How to Get Started

The best way to approach managing chronic pain is to team up with a physician to create a treatment plan. When chronic pain and depression are combined, the need to work with a physician is even greater. Here’s how to get started.

• See your primary care physician and tell her you’re interested in gaining control over your chronic pain. As you develop a plan, keep in mind that the ideal pain management plan will be multidisciplinary. That means it will address all the areas of your life affected by pain. If your physician is not trained in pain management herself, ask her to refer you to a pain specialist.
• Empower yourself by tapping into available resources. Several reputable national organizations are devoted to helping people live full lives despite pain. See the list below for their websites.
• Find a cognitive therapist near you with experience in the treatment of chronic pain. You can locate one by contacting the national pain organizations or cognitive therapists’ professional groups listed below.

Introduction:

There are many questions wondering on what and how herbal packs work. Is it the heat or cooling effects on the application caused the healing or the actual natural ingredients inside the pack are the soothing elements to the pains?

If the heat or cooling elements are the essence, why do we have to pay such a price for the products? Are the scents really important during treatments?

What is Herbal Pack?

Herbal pack is a product which is filled with natural herbs and purposely design to provide pain relief and elevate discomfort due to typical muscle stiffness. Depending on the manufacturers, the filling ingredients and ratio composition of the herbs may vary from one to others. There is no official guidelines on this matter and is not being reviewed by FDA or other international drug/ medical institutes.

There are hundreds or probably thousands of different designs, shape, and filling ingredients of this product. Certain design may serve specific location of your body, while the rectangular pillow shape are commonly perceived as universal product.

How to choose the good one?

1. Consider the condition(s) that you wish to treat. Herbal packs come in a variety of sizes and shapes including those designed for the face/eyes, shoulders and neck, and larger areas such as the back or stomach.
2. Learn the filling properties of different herbs for maximum benefit. Do not just judge the products simply by the fragrances that you enjoy. A sample of herbs designed to relax muscles or reduce inflammation include chamomile, lavender, peppermint and cinnamon. It is also essential to know if there are heating element on the blends, such as wheat & flax seeds. Peppermint & spearmint are another popular choice that may be an additional benefit to sinus conditions.
3. Look for 100 percent natural ingredients in an aromatherapy herbal pack. Natural ingredients should offer superior aromatherapy benefits and often better heat retention.
4. Find an herbal pack that offers a removable cover. You may find the benefits of easy cleaning upon usages or sharing the packs with others. Also,natural packs are prone to internal and external mold and mildew growth. Therefore, you have to diligently store the packs in the freezer inside the sealed plastic bag.
5. Identify the product claim with regards to heat retention, which should be at least 30 minutes for best results. Optimally, look for herbal packs which contain flax seeds and wheat as the main filler. Flax seeds and wheat are reputed to have superior heat retention over rice/ corn and most other fillers. The exception is facial packs, which require more comfort and cooling therapy.
6. Look for designs for your specific are of treatments. They have to be comfortable, easy to use and convenience.

What are the uses of herbal pack?

It will gently help in relieving pain, stiffness, and tension. If you have pain or discomfort from stress or sinus problems then you have to try one of these. The purpose of these herbal packs is to concentrate the healing effects by combining heating and/ or cooling effects on specific parts of the body.

Can it really work?

According to Vert Mooney, MD. Heat therapy application can help provide lower back pain relief through several mechanisms:

• Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels of the muscles surrounding the lumbar spine. This process increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the damaged tissue.
• Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort.
• Heat application facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including muscles, connective tissue, and adhesions. Consequently, with heat therapy, there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back.

Ok, We know that heat therapy can relief pain, stiffness and pain. So what are the benefits using herbal pack then other method such as massage?giftset21

Just 2 reasons. One is easy to do. You can put the herbal pack while sleeping or while at work or in the car. And the other one is cheaper than taking a professional massage.

Tips and Warnings when buying Aromatherapy Herb Pack

• Look for an aromatherapy herbal pack that serves double duty as an ice pack if cold therapy is needed.
• Be cautious when taking a heated aromatherapy herbal pack out of the microwave and avoid overheating.

How to use it to get the maximum benefit?

You should check the temperature. It should be warm enough to relief your pain but don’t get your skin burning! You can use enough insulation in between.

The longer the products applied is the better. For a very minor treatment you can use for 15 to 20 minutes. But for more intense injury you can use longer from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

A specific type of products may feel better for one person than for another, It’s better for you to figure it out yourself which one works best.

Avoid aromatherapy herb pack when you have following disease.

Please note that herbal pack should not be used in certain circumstances. For example, if area is swollen or bruised, heat should not be used. Heat application is also not suitable in the following cases:

• Dermatitis
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Diabetes
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Open wound
• Severe cognitive impairment

Patients should consult doctors if they have heart disease or hypertension.

Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint, and there are many common causes of this problem. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause. If you have shoulder pain, some common causes include:

• Bursitis | Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
  The most common diagnosis in patients with shoulder pain is bursitis or tendonitis of the rotator cuff.
• Rotator Cuff Tear
  Rotator cuff tears occur when the tendons of the rotator cuff separate from the bone. Surgery is sometimes necessary for this condition.
• Frozen Shoulder
  Also called ‘adhesive capsuliitis,’ this is a common condition that leads to stiffness of the joint. Physical therapy and stretching are extremely important aspects of treatment.
• Calcific Tendonitis
  Calcific tendonitis is a condition of calcium deposits within a tendon — most commonly within the rotator cuff tendons. Treatment of calcific tendonitis depends on the extent of symptoms.
• Shoulder Instability
  Instability is a problem that causes a loose joint. Instability can be caused by a traumatic injury (dislocation), or may be a developed condition.
• Shoulder Dislocation
  A dislocation is an injury that occurs when the top of the arm bone becomes disconnected from the scapula.
• Shoulder Separation
  Also called an AC separation, these injuries are the result of a disruption of the acromioclavicular joint. This is a very different injury from a dislocation!
• Labral Tear
  There are several patterns of a torn labrum and the type of treatment depends on the specific injury.
• SLAP Lesion
  The SLAP lesion is also a type of labral tear. The most common cause is a fall onto an outstretched hand.
• Arthritis
  Shoulder arthritis is less common than knee and hip arthritis, but when severe may require a joint replacement surgery.
• Biceps Tendon Rupture
  A proximal biceps tendon rupture occurs when the tendon of the biceps muscle ruptures near the joint.