Pain and Physical Limitations May Cause Depression

(Newswire.net — November 10, 2016) Orlando, FL — Arthritis causes pain and immobility. A majority of individuals with arthritis live a reduced quality of life versus those without the condition. There are many things to know about the condition, and one is how it affects the mental health of individuals who have it.

It is not just arthritis alone, but pain and physical limitations that may cause depression among arthritis sufferers. Sufferers often feel like they are encouraged to go back to bed, shut their doors, and succumb to pain and immobility.

There are arthritis sufferers who are even having a hard time holding a cup of coffee due to joint aches and stiffness. Unfortunately, this condition doesn’t only cause physical pain and limitations, but may also effect the emotions of sufferers.

Houman Danesh, MD, director of integrative pain management at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, states that when a person starts losing the ability to do routine tasks that they had been effortlessly doing previously (such as opening a jar), it could get very frustrating.

He also added that it is not arthritis alone that causes depression but also the functional limitations. Along with these limitations are anxiety, stress, and depression. Staying positive, which is a very important part of pain management plan, may be a serious challenge.

The journal called Arthritis published a study in 2015, and the researchers revealed that osteoarthritis sufferers who needed joint replacement surgery and had six or more painful joints were more susceptible to depression than those whose arthritis only affected one joint.

There are methods arthritis sufferers can resort to in help maintain their physical and mental health while living with the condition. One is to keep moving and engage in regular exercise.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, exercises such as biking, swimming, or walking could help improve mood and reduce pain.  Some of the recommended exercise programs for arthritis are aerobic exercises, strength training, and stretching exercises.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America also revealed that regular exercise may be as effective as certain medications in lowering depression and anxiety. This may even bring life-changing results to the daily life of sufferers.

It may also be helpful to practice relaxation such as engaging in tai chi or yoga and have a social support network from family and friends.

Arthritis sufferers may also turn to the use of one of the most popular joint health supplements called glucosamine. Glucosamine is widely thought to be helpful for joint health.

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