Southwest Spine & Pain Center Recognizes Pain Awareness Month

September is the time of the year that the United States recognizes as Pain Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing social awareness and improving the resources for people living with chronic pain. Often times, people living with chronic pain experience depressive feelings, stress, and anxiety. Treating chronic pain involves addressing other symptoms including psychological ones.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our board certified pain management specialists believe in a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, coordinating care with any other healthcare providers involved in a patient’s treatment. With locations in Richfield, St. George, Cedar City, and Logan, Southwest Spine and Pain Center is the leading pain management facility in Utah.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), patients with chronic pain are more than 4 times likely to develop anxiety or depression. While the correlation between pain and depression is pretty obvious, pain treatment, unfortunately, does not provide relief for depression.

According to the professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington, Dr. Mark D. Sullivan, “Depression reduces the response to pain treatment.” Based on research, acute opioid treatment successes are reduced with depression is present. Depression treatment will not only address other health issues that patients experience, it will improve overall pain treatment.

Anti-depressant medication is a common treatment option that many pain specialists turn to when managing chronic pain. However, if a patient reports worsening emotional symptoms, their providers should without question consider other means of treatment. Anti-depressants are not an all-encompassing treatment. These imperfect medications have dangerous side effects and can cause debilitating problems if not used properly.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we use thorough assessment tools to evaluate a patient’s physical and mental health before ever prescribing medication. Anti-depressants are not the only answer to relieving pain and depression. Talk to a Southwest Spine and Pain Center physician today about other options for relieving your depression and pain.  

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014

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