Depression & Chronic Pain

[thester6474]

Hi, I know that we all have gone through this at some point in our lives.  I have been experiencing major depression for the last four months.  Before that the depression would come and go.  I am at the point where I cry and cry and cry.  On an average day I may sleep 12 -- 16 hours, and when I wake up it feels like I have been up for days at a time.  I have really isolated myself from family and friends in the last month, why dampen their spirits right?  During the time before you got diagnosed were you all experiencing bouts of depression?  And if so, how did you deal with it?  Anti-Depressants do not really help me, I have been on them since October.  I finally weaned myself of of the Cymbalta, because I felt that maybe I am over medicated, and maybe that is causing some of my problems.  But since I have stopped taking them, I feel even more depressed.  I wake up, shower, brush my teeth, and pretty much lie back down.  I have no interest in anything that I once did.  What makes it worse is, I am really afraid of what my doctor's might say or do, if I tell them how I have been feeling this last few months.  What can I do to help me get out of this funk?  Could it be the chronic pain I experience, that is causing this depression?

[Heather3418]

I hear ya!  I definiitely have been through that at many times in my life.  Since I have just been through the death of my father, which should make me depressed, I realize that despite my daily, chronic and hard to control pain, that my zest for life and everything in it, has actually increased.

Sure the pain is not a picnic.  It does remind me that I am alive and will not let something like pain, defeat me or keep me from enjoying all the things about this beautiful world that I want to enjoy.  Spending time with the elderly or doing something special for others, helps me to concentrate on things other than my own aches and pains.  There really are people that have things much worse than I do.  I always try to remember that.

I love people, I love animals and my greatest joy is the beauty in nature.  I do what I can to spend a little of my time enjoying the world around me.

There is always medication available to help, if you find that your current medication is not helping.  I have always believed that talk therapy in addition to some possible medication, is of great benefit.  You know, Cymbalta may have not been the right medication for you.  It may need to have been used in combination with another medication.  This is something you need to talk to your doctor about.

I do think that the Cymbalta was helping, but sounds like you needed a litttle boost.  I would go back to your doctor and talk to him about the way you are feeling.  He might suggest another medication or a combination of medications to help you through this rough period.  The most important thing to remember, is that none of us have to go through this life alone, if we only take the time to reach out to others.  You have done that, by speaking frankly about your feelings on this forum.  Talking about what is troubling us, always helps and does alot to lighten the load, to know that other's may be suffering from the same things you are.

Make that call to the doctor.  You really do not need to suffer.  Promise to do that first thing in the morning?  Please say you will, then reach out to others.  Your experiences may indeed, help someone else.  What a better feeling could anyone get, by the things they do to help others.

Be well and you are in my prayers.

Heather  

[doni54]

Hi,

I am not dx, but know how you feel.  I had a really bad year (2007), with pain and lots of other symptoms.  I can't give you any medical advice, that has to come from Quix, but I can try to give you support and let you know that you are one of many of us that feel this way.

I had a really rough patch a few months ago.  Total despair, and not knowing if I wanted to fight anymore or not.  Thank God for this forum and the wonderful, loving people here.  They helped me when I was at my lowest.

I do think you need to tell your dr what you have been going thru and how you feel about the antidepressants.

I don't know your religious preferences, but I know praying has helped me.  Talking to, and making friends on this forum helps too.  I have a few friends on here that I talk to thru my home e mail.  Sometimes, just knowing there is someone there to listen and understand how you feel makes the days not quite so unbearable.

We are all here for you and understand how you are feeling.  Let us help.  

I believe that we were put on this earth to love each other and to reach out to help others in any way we can.  This forum gives all of us a chance to be comforted, educated, loved and most of all to give of ourselves to others so that they might have a better day.  

Even through your depression, I am sure if you were to read a post here and felt someone else hurting that you would step up with encouraging words to help them.  In doing that, I believe you are lifting yourself up too.

You hang in there and stay on this forum with us.  We are all a family here, and we stick together to help each other.

My best to you, and prayers are coming your way to lift you up!

Love & ((((((hugs))))))
doni

[Quixotic1]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear this, but it was very clear that you are depressed.  Yes, chronic pain can create or add to depression.

It is likely that the Cymbalta was actually helping, but not enough.  You are describing a Major Clinical Depression with the continual crying, the islolating yourself and the sleeping so much.  You must seek help for this as it is a serious and life-threatening illness.  

You are probably afraid your doctor will be angry at you for stopping the Cymbalta or will want to hospitalize you.  Mostly they don't put someone for inpatient unless that person is a danger to themselves or others.  As for being annoyed, you weren't being helped enough by it that you thought it was just another medication giving you side effects.  You need someone to take you very seriously.  Is there a friend or family member who could go with you to the doctor?

Tomorrow, if you can't get an urgent appointment, then you should be seen in the ER, where they may be able to get an emergency psychiatric appointment.  The psych docs are the ones who really know which AD's are the best in which situations.  General docs are not as good at picking them.

I think you need an antidepressant to start the process of coming out of the "funk."  When the depression is causing as many vegetative signs as you have, letting it  run it's course is not wise in my opinion.

The other thing that adds to your feeling this way is being without a diagnosis for your pain and problems.  That's where we can come in.  You can talk to us and use us.

I'm sending you (((HUGS))), but a firm order to seek help on an urgent basis.  Do you hear me?

Quix