According to the Anxiety Disorder Association of America (ADAA), chronic pain disorders are highly prevalent in people with anxiety disorders. The following are among the most common the ADAA reports that are briefly described below:
Arthritis — Arthritis is a wide-ranging term that describes a group of more than 100 medical conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system and specifically the joints, which is where two or more bones meet. Arthritis-related joint problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation, and damage to joint cartilage and surrounding structures. Damage can lead to joint weakness, instability, and deformities that may interfere with even the most basic daily tasks. Some forms of arthritis are systemic, meaning they can affect the whole body and can cause damage to virtually any bodily organ or system.
The prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders (such as depression) is higher in individuals with arthritis than in the general population. Some studies have found anxiety disorders are even more strongly associated with arthritis than is depression. A co-occurring anxiety disorder or mood disorder is more often found in arthritis sufferers in younger age groups.
Fibromyalgia — Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain, and stiffness, soft-tissue tenderness, general fatigue, and sleep problems. The most common areas of pain include the neck, back, shoulders, pelvic girdle, and hands, but any part of the body can be affected. People with fibromyalgia experience a range of symptoms that can vary in intensity. Symptoms may also include irritable bowel, headaches and migraines, dry eyes and mouth, rashes and other skin problems, vision problems, and poor coordination. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, and there is currently no lab test that can diagnose the condition.
In a recent study of 336 adults, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, those with fibromyalgia were almost seven times more likely to have suffered from an anxiety disorder than those without the disorder. They were also about three times more likely to have suffered major depression than those who had not experienced fibromyalgia. The study found the onset of an anxiety disorder or other mental illness in people with fibromyalgia preceded the onset of the fibromyalgia, suggesting that anxiety or depression may be more than just a reaction to the chronic pain. The researchers noted there may be a “shared vulnerability” between the psychiatric disorders and fibromyalgia, possibly genes or environmental factors such as chronic stress. However, the connection remains unknown and requires further study.
Migraine — A migraine is severe pain felt on one or both sides of the head. The pain normally occurs around the temples or behind one eye or ear. A migraine may also cause nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. The pain can last a few hours or up to two days. In a classic migraine a person experiences an aura, or visual symptoms such as losing vision or seeing flashing lights 10 to 30 minutes before an attack. During a common migraine a person may have nausea, vomiting, or other symptoms, but does not experience an aura.
Migraines (and chronic daily headaches) are highly prevalent in people with anxiety disorders, as well as those with mood- and substance-abuse disorders. Many studies have found that generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder are particularly associated with migraines or other types of headaches. Moreover, in people with a co-occurring anxiety disorder and migraines, the likelihood of major depression increases. As with fibromyalgia, researchers have suggested that there may be a common predisposition to anxiety disorders, depression, and migraines.
Back Pain — Anxiety disorders and back pain often co-occur; back pain is more common in people with anxiety and mood disorders than those without them. Illness, accidents, and infections are among the causes of back pain. According to WebMD, no matter the cause, back pain symptoms are the same, and they include persistent aches or stiffness anywhere along the spine; sharp, localized pain in the neck, upper back, or lower back, especially after lifting heavy objects or engaging in strenuous activity; and chronic ache in the middle or lower back, especially after sitting or standing for extended periods.
An anxiety disorder and a co-occurring chronic pain condition can make a person’s health more difficult to treat. But a variety of multidisciplinary treatments and lifestyle changes can offer relief. Learn more about the importance of using a team approach for more effective chronic pain management by reading my article The Need for Multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Management that you can download for free on our Article page.
You can learn more about the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System at our website www.addiction-free.com. If you or a loved one is undergoing chronic pain management, especially if you’re in recovery or believe you may have a medication or other mental health problem and you want to learn more effective chronic pain management tools, please go to our Publications page and check out my books; especially the Addiction-Free Pain Management® Recovery Guide: Managing Pain and Medication in Recovery. To purchase this book please Click Here.
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