How to Navigate the Emotional Challenges of Chronic Spine Pain: Guidance from Dr. Brandon Claflin

Back pain is so uncomfortable it can take a toll on numerous aspects of a person’s life. In addition to feeling back discomfort, the point at which the pain originates, a person may also experience associated pain from changing the way they move or sleep to accommodate the existing pain. Additionally, pain may affect a person’s mental and emotional health and place them at risk of developing serious mental health issues. 

According to Dr. Brandon Claflin of Oklahoma Interventional Spine & Pain, taking steps to protect yourself emotionally while navigating spine pain can be key to retaining your quality of life and maintaining overall wellness. Here, he shares why emotional and mental health may be affected when chronic spine pain is present and what you can do to mitigate those challenges. 

Why Spine Pain Affects Mental Health

Chronic pain in any part of the body can present a challenge physically and mentally, but spine pain, in particular, has been repeatedly associated with a decline in a person’s mental and emotional health. 

There are three reasons why spine pain may directly interfere with a person’s emotional health:

Avoidance

Once pain is present in any part of the body, avoidance becomes a natural response. For instance, if someone has a twisted ankle, they naturally tend to avoid placing weight on the ankle until it’s healed. 

For a person with spine pain, avoidance maneuvers may significantly impact their quality of life, making it hard for them to perform daily duties and tasks. This can lead to feelings that life is harder, more stressful, and less enjoyable. 

Overexertion Behavior

On the opposite end of the spectrum, some people attempt to “fight” their pain by overexerting themselves in an effort to force the pain away. Repeated movements that result in pain can not only make a person’s injury more severe, but it can also produce feelings of failure or defeat when the pain persists. 

Pain Catastrophizing

At some point, chronic spine pain may feel as though it takes center stage in a person’s life. They may feel like the pain is always present, unbearable, and that there is no hope for them to ever feel better. This is known as pain catastrophizing, and it can actually make pain more prominent and more difficult to deal with. 

These three behaviors can lead to serious mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and even physical disability. Learning to deal with your pain in a healthy way and manage your emotions can help in maintaining your total wellness despite spinal pain.

How to Deal With Emotional Challenges From Chronic Pain

First and foremost, your pain is real. Chronic pain is consistent, challenging, and very real to the person who is experiencing it. It’s important to accept that spine pain exists and that it directly impacts your life. Next, it’s critical to find ways to manage pain and emotions to ensure you remain well and reduce your risk of developing mental health issues. 

There are several techniques that can help with this:

Seek Professional Therapy

Talking about your pain and the emotions you experience can help you feel connected to others and can help you build a support team so you do not have to carry the burden alone. A trusted friend or loved one can help by listening, but the help of a licensed therapist can be a major stepping stone to finding strategic coping techniques. 

Practice Good Self Compassion and Care

Being gentle with yourself, accepting that your pain is real, and taking good care of yourself are all ways to help mitigate the mental stress associated with chronic spine pain. In general, don’t force yourself to do activities that cause pain, and take steps to learn how to focus less on the pain. Meditation, practicing mindfulness, and yoga can all help you change your mindset and focus less on the negative and more on the positive. 

Other easy self-care techniques that can help ease back pain and help improve your mental health include hot baths, massage, and light exercises like walking or cycling. Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you are a candidate for this type of exercise.

Interventional Pain Management

Seeking the help of a pain management specialist can also help you experience a more positive outlook on your pain and can help alleviate some of the pain you experience. Pain management specialists can target the specific nerves that are causing pain and help reduce pain by treating those nerves specifically. They may also be able to conduct studies and tests to better diagnose pain and treat it differently than a primary care provider. 

Inhale Positivity, Exhale Stress

Living with chronic spinal pain can be challenging, and managing your mental health is important. If you feel like you’re drowning in pain and are experiencing feelings of sadness or worry, seek the help of a trusted loved one or a professional therapist to get the help you need.

In addition, contact a pain management specialist to get access to strategic ways to help ease spinal pain.