Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Friends, I wrote the following article for the upcoming newsletter for Wishes and Rainbows (www.wishesandrainbows.org) and Grammy said it was okay to share it here since this topic is drawing so much discussion. I hope this helps. Virginia 4 plc fracture of the C1, Tethered Cord, " acquired chiari (not acm), 5.7 mm " and atlanto occipital dislocation due to equestrian accident, 2004 TC surgery, Nov. 2007 at TCI. CC Fusion upcoming ******************************************************************** Why is depression so common in those with Chiari (and related disorders)... and how best to deal with this issue? Depression and mood disorders occur frequently in patients with chronic illness and pain. There are many valid reasons for this, including prescription drug side-effects; loss of lifestyle; weight gain and loss of healthy self image; genetics; hormonal changes; and/or lack of understanding from family and friends, to name a few. However, depression and pain also work in a vicious cycle where pain impacts mood and mood enhances pain, each feeding off the other. In fact, it is known that pain and depression follow the same nerve pathways (neurotransmitters) within the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. Pain seems to enervate areas in the brain where emotions are processed, which translates into sadness, anxiety and irritability. Depression is the fourth leading health problem in the world and the 11th leading cause of death in the US. Because depression manifests itself, in part, with many physical symptoms (such as neck pain, tingling, headaches, numbness, heart palpitations etc), it is often difficult for doctors to differentiate between a chronic biological condition and a mood disorder. In other words, which came first, the depression or the pain? It is of utmost importance for those suffering depression due to a chronic illness such as Arnold Chiari Malformation (or related disorders) to seek professional treatment. It is absolutely necessary to find a specialist who understands the severity of both the medical condition and the depression. Talk-therapy with a compassionate practitioner is invaluable and if you visit a therapist and feel there is no understanding or connection, you should interview another until you find the right one for the job. Prescription drug therapy can also be an important tool in the arsenal against depression. Such medications have been in use for decades and for most patients, there are few side effects and the benefits are substantial. These medications also often alleviate pain and some of the newer ones also assist in lessening the neuropathy experienced by ACM sufferers. An excellent program online from which to receive sound medical knowledge is found at The Discovery Health Channel website. There, you can watch a 60-minute program recently aired on television where medical professionals discuss the link between depression and pain. This video can be found at http://discoveryhealthcme.discovery.com/depressionpain/depressionpain. html Bottom line: do not ignore the symptoms of depression (sadness that lasts for days, hopelessness, the feeling that " no one loves you and why would they? " ), whether they be in yourself or in a loved one. Since pain follows the same pathways as depression, it can be expected that pain and depression are like the old-time song: " you can't have one without the other. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 It was brought to my attention that the link I provided below, in order to access the CME program online at Discovery Health, does not work. Here is a new version of that paragraph with how to access those four great programs on depression and pain. " An excellent program online, called CME, from which to receive sound medical > knowledge is found at The Discovery Health Channel website. There, > you can watch 4 video programs aired in 2007 where > medical professionals discuss the link between depression and pain. > This video can be found at http://health.discovery.com/beyond/ and in the Search box, type CME depression pain. " sorry 'bout that. Virginia > > Friends, I wrote the following article for the upcoming newsletter > for Wishes and Rainbows (www.wishesandrainbows.org) and Grammy said > it was okay to share it here since this topic is drawing so much > discussion. I hope this helps. > > Virginia > 4 plc fracture of the C1, Tethered Cord, " acquired chiari (not acm), > 5.7 mm " and atlanto occipital dislocation due to equestrian accident, > 2004 > > TC surgery, Nov. 2007 at TCI. CC Fusion upcoming > ******************************************************************** > Why is depression so common in those with Chiari (and related > disorders)... > and how best to deal with this issue? > > Depression and mood disorders occur frequently in patients with > chronic illness and pain. There are many valid reasons for this, > including prescription drug side-effects; loss of lifestyle; weight > gain and loss of healthy self image; genetics; hormonal changes; > and/or lack of understanding from family and friends, to name a few. > > However, depression and pain also work in a vicious cycle where pain > impacts mood and mood enhances pain, each feeding off the other. In > fact, it is known that pain and depression follow the same nerve > pathways (neurotransmitters) within the pre-frontal cortex of the > brain. Pain seems to enervate areas in the brain where emotions are > processed, which translates into sadness, anxiety and irritability. > > Depression is the fourth leading health problem in the world and the > 11th leading cause of death in the US. Because depression manifests > itself, in part, with many physical symptoms (such as neck pain, > tingling, headaches, numbness, heart palpitations etc), it is often > difficult for doctors to differentiate between a chronic biological > condition and a mood disorder. In other words, which came first, the > depression or the pain? > > It is of utmost importance for those suffering depression due to a > chronic illness such as Arnold Chiari Malformation (or related > disorders) to seek professional treatment. It is absolutely necessary > to find a specialist who understands the severity of both the medical > condition and the depression. Talk-therapy with a compassionate > practitioner is invaluable and if you visit a therapist and feel > there is no understanding or connection, you should interview another > until you find the right one for the job. > > Prescription drug therapy can also be an important tool in the > arsenal against depression. Such medications have been in use for > decades and for most patients, there are few side effects and the > benefits are substantial. These medications also often alleviate pain > and some of the newer ones also assist in lessening the neuropathy > experienced by ACM sufferers. > > An excellent program online from which to receive sound medical > knowledge is found at The Discovery Health Channel website. There, > you can watch a 60-minute program recently aired on television where > medical professionals discuss the link between depression and pain. > This video can be found at > http://discoveryhealthcme.discovery.com/depressionpain/depressionpain. > html > > Bottom line: do not ignore the symptoms of depression (sadness that > lasts for days, hopelessness, the feeling that " no one loves you and > why would they? " ), whether they be in yourself or in a loved one. > Since pain follows the same pathways as depression, it can be > expected that pain and depression are like the old-time song: " you > can't have one without the other. " > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 oops again...I know, brain fog! you can relate! go to that link and select on right " Expert Advice, " Then type CME pain depression into the Search box. Sorry!! V. > > > > Friends, I wrote the following article for the upcoming newsletter > > for Wishes and Rainbows (www.wishesandrainbows.org) and Grammy said > > it was okay to share it here since this topic is drawing so much > > discussion. I hope this helps. > > > > Virginia > > 4 plc fracture of the C1, Tethered Cord, " acquired chiari (not acm), > > 5.7 mm " and atlanto occipital dislocation due to equestrian > accident, > > 2004 > > > > TC surgery, Nov. 2007 at TCI. CC Fusion upcoming > > ******************************************************************** > > Why is depression so common in those with Chiari (and related > > disorders)... > > and how best to deal with this issue? > > > > Depression and mood disorders occur frequently in patients with > > chronic illness and pain. There are many valid reasons for this, > > including prescription drug side-effects; loss of lifestyle; weight > > gain and loss of healthy self image; genetics; hormonal changes; > > and/or lack of understanding from family and friends, to name a few. > > > > However, depression and pain also work in a vicious cycle where > pain > > impacts mood and mood enhances pain, each feeding off the other. In > > fact, it is known that pain and depression follow the same nerve > > pathways (neurotransmitters) within the pre-frontal cortex of the > > brain. Pain seems to enervate areas in the brain where emotions are > > processed, which translates into sadness, anxiety and irritability. > > > > Depression is the fourth leading health problem in the world and > the > > 11th leading cause of death in the US. Because depression manifests > > itself, in part, with many physical symptoms (such as neck pain, > > tingling, headaches, numbness, heart palpitations etc), it is often > > difficult for doctors to differentiate between a chronic biological > > condition and a mood disorder. In other words, which came first, > the > > depression or the pain? > > > > It is of utmost importance for those suffering depression due to a > > chronic illness such as Arnold Chiari Malformation (or related > > disorders) to seek professional treatment. It is absolutely > necessary > > to find a specialist who understands the severity of both the > medical > > condition and the depression. Talk-therapy with a compassionate > > practitioner is invaluable and if you visit a therapist and feel > > there is no understanding or connection, you should interview > another > > until you find the right one for the job. > > > > Prescription drug therapy can also be an important tool in the > > arsenal against depression. Such medications have been in use for > > decades and for most patients, there are few side effects and the > > benefits are substantial. These medications also often alleviate > pain > > and some of the newer ones also assist in lessening the neuropathy > > experienced by ACM sufferers. > > > > An excellent program online from which to receive sound medical > > knowledge is found at The Discovery Health Channel website. There, > > you can watch a 60-minute program recently aired on television > where > > medical professionals discuss the link between depression and pain. > > This video can be found at > > > http://discoveryhealthcme.discovery.com/depressionpain/depressionpain. > > html > > > > Bottom line: do not ignore the symptoms of depression (sadness that > > lasts for days, hopelessness, the feeling that " no one loves you > and > > why would they? " ), whether they be in yourself or in a loved one. > > Since pain follows the same pathways as depression, it can be > > expected that pain and depression are like the old-time song: " you > > can't have one without the other. " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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