{"id":598,"date":"2021-04-29T13:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T13:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/?p=598"},"modified":"2023-09-19T15:09:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T15:09:20","slug":"depression-after-spine-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davidchangspine.com\/depression-after-spine-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Depression After Spine Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Back pain and its treatment takes a tremendous toll on our physical and mental health, and even when treatment goes exactly as planned, depression can develop after surgery. But why is depression an all-to-common side effect after spinal surgery, especially when treatment helps to resolve pain? We take a closer look at the link between spine surgery and depression in today\u2019s blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Causes Depression After Spine Surgery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A 2017 study by the Mayo Clinic found that patients undergoing spine surgery were more likely to develop depression after their operation than patients treated for other surgical or medical conditions known to be associated with depression. Another study found that upwards of 20 percent of patients developed depression or symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder following their spinal procedure. So there appears to be a clear link between spine surgery and an elevated depression risk, but why does it exist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers say two different factors drive depression risk following spinal surgery. The first is that many patients have been in pain for an extended duration before they end up getting surgery, and weeks and months of daily pain can have an adverse effect on your psyche. The second is that even though pain may be greatly reduced or eliminated after surgery, the toll back pain took on you also takes some time to heal. Surgery addresses the physical issue, but you need to be cognizant of caring for your mental health after surgery, because it\u2019s dealing with its own issues as a result of long-term back pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A final potential source of depression risk that was not analyzed in the studies is the risk of mismatched expectations. If a patient believes that a surgery will solve all their back pain issues, and then they are still dealing with discomfort following the procedure, that can be a big blow to their mental health. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important for spine surgeons to explain the risks and the expected outcomes to patients so that everyone is on the same page. We\u2019ll do everything we can to help you achieve the best outcome, but that will also come with work on your end, so it\u2019s important you understand what\u2019s being asked of you so that your expectations are appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing Depression After Spine Surgery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no perfect playbook for preventing depression after spine surgery, but acknowledging that it is a possibility, even after a successful surgery, is a good step towards preventing and treating a mental health issue. It also speaks to the importance of choosing a surgical care team who is aware of the risks of depression and can help monitor for signs and work to treat any issues they come across. Even after a successful surgery that relieves pain, you\u2019re going to still going to have mental anguish from the toll your back pain took on you, so don\u2019t assume you\u2019re in the clear. Take proactive steps and be mindful of the signs of depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active interventions you can take to reduce your depression risk after spine surgery include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n