Depression and spinal cord stimulation

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bert55

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I had to go to psychologist before getting approved for the scs. Now I find out the psych. says I'm depressed and they won't do the scs now.
My question is how can you not be somewhat depressed from cronic pain from a long standing back injury?
Just having to go to the psych. is making me depressed !!!
I had high hopes for getting the SCS and getting back to a somewhat "normal" life, and getting some relief from this pain.
Does this cycle ever end ???:(
 
Bert-
I am so sorry to hear of your situation. I am starting the process of a SCS and have been talking to my pain doctor and psychologist about it. I guess many people have a problem dealing with a foreign object in their body. Also, if someone is very depressed, then they may not be able to fully work with the SCS, therefore, not getting adequate relief. HOWEVER, I think all chronic pain patients are somewhat depressed (how can you NOT be). Is this the first visit you had with the psychologist? Are you seeing him/her for a follow-up? I cannot imagine a psychologist finding someone depressed and not want to follow-up to help. If there is no follow-up, please call and initiate one. Do you think it is possible that you are in fact more than just a little depressed? If so, this might actually be a good thing. Getting to the right person to talk to is KEY. My psychologist has been amazing. He has given me some of my life back and I see him every month. I did not realize how much my back issues/chronic pain was affecting just about EVERY aspect of my life. And I mean EVERY!! He is helping me work though so much and I am very thankful.

Anyway, sorry to rarable. I have to get my kiRAB to bed. If you think this guy was way off, then please ask to be seen by someone else. Preferably someone who deals with chronic pain. If there could be some truth to his findings, then please try and see him again. Hopefully he can help you work through some things and you will be ready for that SCS in no time.

Keep us posted and best of luck!
jRABun
 
Thank you jRABun for your reply. I have went to this psychologist 3 times, first time he just talked to me and asked some questions, second time I had a 580 true or false questions to take and third time he talked some more and said there are things I can do mentally to help with my back pains and he will tell me on my next visit which is on monday.
My primary care DR. called me and said he want's me to start taking wellbutrin and sent a script to my pharmacy.

I know I'm somewhat depressed, everything you try to do involves your back one way or another. I don't think I'm that depressed where they would not allow the scs.
I will find out on monday what his reasons are, It just gets me angry getting my hopes up and now this problem.

Thank's again for the reply
 
I too had to answer questions before seeing the shrink, I already knew I was depressed and had been on paxil for a few years.

I was still able to get my SCS. I would talk to the Dr that suggested the SCS and see what his option is.

All my Dr ever said was as long as your not suicidal you can get a SCS.
As everyone with pain is depressed.

Good Luck, Cindy
 
I believe all chronic pain sufferers deal with some level of depression. Maybe not all the time but when pain is at its worst how could we not become depressed? When I was first diagnosed with crohns disease my GI immediately put me on amitryptaline because, in his own worRAB, "just knowing you have a disease is depressing". I was hoping for more of a pain relief benefit from it but unfortunately it didn't help so I stopped taking it. Good luck and I sure hope things work out for you.
 
Sorry about the SCS. It disturbs me to hear that you will not get the SCS because of depression. I have two SCS's and I did not have to have a psych. eval. before the surgeries. I agree with the others, I believe all of us chronic pain sufferers are at least a little depressed. I am still a bit depressed, even with the SCS's. However, I know I would be much more depressed if I did not have the SCS's to help with my pain! Can you go to a different PM doctor?

Melissa
 
Bert:

Maybe you can call your primary care or pain doc and have a discussion about "being situationally depressed due to chronic pain vs. a true clinical depression diagnosis". It seems like that neeRAB to be explored further - so you and they can decide what is really going on.
 
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