Suffering from a back injury can cause numerous issues for the person suffering, both mentally and physically.
However, most people will focus on the physical impact first. This makes it all the more important for back injury sufferers to have a good understanding of the mental impact potential, as well.
Chronic pain and mental health
The International Association for the Study of Pain dives into the mental effects of a back injury. Generally speaking, the biggest impacting factor of a back injury on mental health is the chronic pain that often comes with it.
Studies from all over the world and across numerous decades have shown a strong relationship between chronic pain and mental health disorders. This especially includes depression and anxiety.
Chronic back pain sufferers often develop or face a worsening of anxiety or depression. They may even end up struggling with other issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, depending on the type of injury and pain they face.
On top of that, many people will feel depressed due to the damage a back injury does to a person’s physical capabilities.
Preparing for a long recovery
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the damages dealt, and discouraged by the potentially long road to physical recovery ahead. The idea of dealing with permanent physical changes also invokes sensations of dread and fear in many people, or even despair and hopelessness.
Knowing to expect these potential mental health issues can help a back injury sufferer better understand their own feelings. It also helps people learn how to properly navigate through them in this difficult time.