If you are set to have a surgery to correct an issue with your spine, odds are most of your focus is on your physical health. While this makes sense, it’s not the only aspect of your health that we need to care for. You may be surprised to learn that depression and related mental health issues can occur in the wake of a spinal operation, so it’s important to do things to help improve both your mental and physical health following back surgery.
Depression After Spine Surgery
According to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, patients who underwent a spine surgery had an increased risk of developing postoperative depression compared to those who underwent other forms of major surgery or those who are battling other health conditions. A research team led by Clark C. Chen, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs at the University of California San Diego, began by identifying patients who underwent spine surgery between 2000 and 2010 without a prior history of depression. They also identified patients with newly diagnosed depression within five years of undergoing spine surgery. Similar identification was conducted with patients receiving other medical care or treatment, including those suffering from:
- Coronary Arterial Bypass Grafting (CABG)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Hysterectomy
- Cholecystectomy
Among patients who underwent surgery, the rate of new-onset depression was highest within five years of surgery for those who had spine surgery. In fact, the depression likelihood was approximately double compared to those seeking treatment for CABG or COPD.
“The findings of an increased rate of depression after spine surgery speaks to the disabling effects of spine problems,” said study co-author William Taylor, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California San Diego. “The risk of post-operative depression can be mitigated by appropriate counseling and referrals.”
The research team determined that a number of different factors play a role in this increased risk of depression after spinal surgery, but they believe one of the main factors is the crippling nature of back pain and the fact that even with surgery, patients may not be completely pain free. Being unable to perform certain tasks prior to surgery because of back pain can have a significant impact on a person’s psyche, and they may still have some discomfort following the procedure, which can have lingering effects on their mental health.
To combat this, researchers say spine surgeons need to monitor the mental health of their patients in the days and weeks leading up to surgery, and they need to ensure patients know how to get the resources they need if they find themselves battling negative thoughts after the operation. We do everything we can to help our patients become physically and mentally healthy following a spinal operation, but it doesn’t just happen by chance. To learn more about how we can help care for all aspects of your health following a spinal procedure, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his team today.
