Beyond The RSD/CRPS Pain May Lie Depression And Suicide

The Pain associated with RSD/CRPS can cause a variety of problems: Depression; Sleep disturbance; Suicidal Tendencies; Anxiety; Loss of Libido; Reduced Memory Retention; Mood Swings; Isolation; Despair; Reduced Quality of Life.

It has been documented that depression and anxiety can often occur with persistent pain disorders and the RSD/CRPS sufferers are no exception. The National Health Organization estimates there are approximately 6,000,000 RSD/CRPS patients in the US with up to 50% suffering from depression at any time. Over recent years there has been an increase in pain clinics offering psychological help due to the fact that; “Recognition that chronic pain is a complex neurophysiological, behavioral and psychological phenomenon has led to the development of innovative treatment programs. The programs share one common assumption: If chronic pain is complex, then a combination of treatment techniques are required to successfully treat patients.” (Keefe 1982)    

Feeling suicidal is not a character defect, and it doesn’t mean that you are crazy, or weak, or flawed. It only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now.

Life with severe, constant pain is very hard and there will be times when what is already excruciating flares up to being beyond comprehension in terms of pain. When these times occur, you must take extra special care of yourself physically and mentally relying on family and friends to assist you.

Know that you’re not alone; the human mind can sometimes be your own worst enemy, especially when bottling up how you’re feeling both physically and mentally. Consider joining an organization that meets in your community or online to share experiences with others who know how you’re feeling and have first-hand experience with depression stemming from RSD/CRPS.

• The social activities many sufferers previously enjoyed can be greatly reduced or even completely stopped. This could be for any one of several reasons; the not wanting to spoil other peoples enjoyment, maybe because they can no longer keep up with them; or not feel like contributing to the conversation. One of the main reasons given for ‘Dropping Out’ is to avoid answering the question “What’s wrong with you?”and trying to explain the condition, over and over again. Unfortunately because of these problems, people may become isolated and lose friends.
• Being unable to become fully involved in family activities, maybe playing with ones children or grandchildren is restricted and the feeling of guilt because of this. Avoiding family functions is sometimes considered an easier option than trying to explain the facts about the condition and how they feel.
• The economic impact caused by the condition can be immense, reduced employment or being unable to work at all and having to rely on benefits, and the feeling of guilt this can bring about. The restrictions on what one or ones family are able to afford through the reduction in income, perhaps having to forsake holidays, new clothes etc. all these problems can affect ones self-esteem.
• The overwhelming fear of the affected limb being more painful through contact, as it frequently is, can present many problems, this may extend to the rejection of any type of physical contact including that of a partner. This fear can be especially depressing when it prohibits a person playing with, or even cuddling their children or grandchildren etc.
• One of the most often noted problem is a person’s own doubt as to what it is that they are actually suffering from. This is hardly surprising, when there are so many conflicting theories being expressed as to its cause, the prognosis and above all, the skepticism that some doctors have, to the actual existence of the condition.