An estimated 65 million people in the United States alone suffer from chronic back pain. Chronic back pain doesn’t just hurt sufferers physically—it can hurt emotionally too. From physical ailments, to impacting mood, memory and relationships, chronic pain can have a huge impact on one’s life. Here are some of the ways chronic back pain can affect your quality of life and what you should do about it:
Depression and Mood Swings
Over time, chronic back pain can take an emotional toll on sufferers. Constantly dealing with pain and the stress of not knowing if the pain will improve can cause serious emotional issues. Depression, anger, anxiety and mood swings are just some of the emotional side effects of chronic pain. While a bout of emotional pain is normal, if the issues persist, it’s time to do something about it. Try to distract yourself by doing activities you love if you can do so without pain. Exploring stress-relieving activities can be a big help too. If the pain persists, consider joining a support group—many sufferers find relief by talking about their pain with others who can relate.
Low Self-Esteem
Chronic back pain can disrupt your life and make it harder to complete daily tasks and do the things you love. As a result of these limitations, sufferers often have diminished self-esteem. If you are dealing with lowered self-esteem from chronic back pain, it’s important to try and change your mindset right away. While it may seem like an uphill battle, understanding your worth is important. Chronic back pain doesn’t define who you are as a person. If self-esteem is a continual issue, therapy and support groups can help.
Relationships
Many people underestimate how much chronic pain can affect relationships. As a result of pain and the other emotional side effects that come with chronic back pain, sufferers tend to become reclusive and shy away from social gatherings. Friends may not understand the physical and emotional turmoil those with chronic pain go through, and in turn, become distant. Family dynamics can change as well. If chronic back pain is beginning to affect your relationships, it’s time to talk to a professional about pain-management or surgical options.
Living with chronic back pain can feel extremely defeating, but you don’t have to suffer. If your chronic back pain is affecting your quality of life, contact the medical professionals at Coastal Orthopedics today. With a team of renowned physicians and pain-management specialists, the Coastal Orthopedics team will tailor a comprehensive pain-management plan to minimize the impacts of chronic back pain.
