I’ve got a herniated disc c5-c6. Went to see surgeon after trying everything else first (traction, epidural shots etc…). Now I’m waiting on my insurance company to review the case for approval. I haven’t slept a full nite since Sept. I can’t play with my kids for more than 10 minutes without the pain dialing up. I’m getting really depressed about the whole thing. Can’t bike, can’t swim, so I run–which is what i need to work on anyway, but seeing all my friends out training is really bringin me down. I’m having a hard time accepting the fact that this summer’s races are off for me. I guess I need to HTFU… I’ll at least be volunteering at a few events. It will also give me a chance to get my bike clean.
Does anyone have any OTC recommendations for depression?
Man, you already sound like you let it get the best of you. I wish I could give you some good recommendations but the only thing I could tell you is to stay away from the sauce. I had a pretty bad drinking problem during college because of depression. Keep running, running was one thing that I really enjoyed and kept me going for a while. Do what you can for other athletes and maybe you will get some joy knowing you have helped someone else. Oh, and hit up some b-complex.
man i know how you feel, though not for the same reason this year started off pretty low. a very good friend pointed me in the direction of how omega 3 and omega 6 oils affect us. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-6-000317.htm this is just one little article but hopefully it’s a start. in the U.S we usually don’t have a prob with getting enough omega 6 but not knowing anything about your diet, routine, etc, i thought i would pass it along. keep trying to find things you enjoy that you are still able to do, keep your mind busy.
I would suggest some sleep aids and some anti-depressants until your injury is surgically corrected. Not a thing wrong with taking those meds for the short term!
Been there. Because most of us are O/C types, “jocks” and fit a certain profile, perhaps I can add a bit by adding what worked for me. It ain’t easy.
This is dangerous shit. Do not allow yourself to slide into depression, as it is addictive and a slippery slope down into hell.
You are in charge of yourself and you’ve already done the most important thing you can do - admit a problem (please continue to treat it as a big problem, even if it not yet is - its like being a “little bit” addicted to herion.)
Here’s Kai’s recipe out - its your farking problem - deal with it. Deal hard, aggressively, fark the sport other than running, fark drugs and doctors (sorry guys, didn’t work for me), and pull yourself up from your sad, depressed bootstrings. You don’t have time for this nonsense, your friends and family don’t, and your job damn sure doesn’t.
If you knew you had an alcohol problem, you’d do it; same with pain pills or weight. You can do this by not allowing yourself the indulgence of sliding into nothingness…you’ve got plenty to do 24 hours a day - go do it!
PM should you like, I’m here for you 100%, as are many others here.
Kai
Not speaking as a health care professional here - just a guy who’s walked in your shoes - so take it for what it’s worth.
I was laid up with an injury for the better part of the year, and suffered what I would consider to be low-grade depression. In my opinion, it stemmed primarily from the sudden drop-off of physical activity, and not from an organic neurochemical imbalance that would necessitate SSRIs or other antidepressants. In your case, the lack of sleep is probably compounding the effects. If I were in your predicament, I’d probably start by addressing the sleep and pain issues first, before looking to treat what is likely to be the natural consequence of your sudden lifestyle change (assuming depression was not a problem for you, prior to the injury). Also, you may find that you can tolerate some form of aerobic activity (stair climber, eliptical, etc. – something that doesn’t require engagement of the neck and shoulder muscles). I think you may find some relief from what feels like depression, once you get the blood and endorphins pumping again. You may even experience some pain relief (again, provided that your activity doesn’t aggrivate the affected structures). That, and getting my caffeine intake under control, is what helped me turn the corner, even though running and swimming was out of the question, pre-surgery. In my personal experience, and with those I’ve consulted in similar situations, physical exercise - or lack thereof - was the single biggest factor in their physical and emotional sense of well-being.
The majority of my family takes antidepressants; not a single one of them exercise on a regular basis. Tinkering with your thinker should always be a last resort, in my personal opinion. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to consult a physician whom you trust, before deciding on any particular course of action, especially if you’re having thoughts and feelings that you feel uncomfortable with.
Good luck with your recovery, and hang in there. You’ll get through this.
if you’re going through so much pain why are you doing the most concussive thing–running. that makes absolutely no sense to me.
you want to get better? stop running and start going to yoga 4 times a week. also take 3 tablespoons of fish oil a day.
if you can’t race, so what.
get better. that should be your main focus.
get better, then do what you want.
for now though, quit the mope’y attitude (stop looking at what you “can’t do”) and focus on things that will repair your body and mind. i believe alot of what you’re going through is the internal language you’re telling yourself. (ie, oh i’m so depressed,i can’t swim. oh i’m so depressed, i can’t bike. oh i’m so depressed, i can’t race this year.)
what if you said to yourself, “it’s only just the start of April. if i can figure this thing out and try some things to improve my physical state of being, like YOGA, i could be back out there before i know it.”
why go to races, that’s another point. you want to upset yourself more, i guess? point being–if seeing everybody train is bringing you down, and you’re upset you cannot race…why would you put yourself in the environment that is supposedly upsetting you so much?
again, that makes no sense to me.
go to yoga, take fish oil, change your internal dialogue.
Are you just frustrated, pissed, and tired or are you depressed. If you are truly depressed, it doesn’t sound like it, you need something other than OTC.
Talk to your doctor. Depression is not something you treat by yourself.
Ok, I’m not 100% sure if he’ll do this surgery on that area, BUT it is worth looking into if you are forced down the surgical route!
My husband had 3 herniated discs and after a year of non-surgical treatment he couldn’t stand it anymore as he was living on Celebrex (and he had triathlons to do!!). I found Dr. Ditzworth on line via: www.spineonline.com (the website is a little hokie so don’t let it scare you off). At that time he only had a practice in California but it looks like they’ve expanded. We went through the necessary steps to find out if he was a candidate and he was.
The entire surgery took maybe 2 hours. The key is that there were NO stitches, no real incision. He was up walking the next day and (this is the key part) FOUR months later finished Ironman CDA! Back pain: gone!
Best of luck to you. I hope you don’t have to go down the surgical path but if you do, PLEASE don’t let anyone slice your back open before you check out alternatives.
You’re right about the lack of sleep and depression never an issue prior to injury.
I’ve just gotten a prescrip for a sleep aid–Lookin forward to trying it out tonite.
Thank you for your input I really appreciate it.
I used to do at least 2 big slides a year into depresssion and it was triathlon that helped me balance everything out, I can imagine where I’d be mentally if I couldn’t exercise so I empathize with you big time.
I’ll add my suggestion - if you’re a DIY type of person there are a lot of books on depression, the trick is finding one that works for you. My depression stemmed from anxiety so what worked for me (The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook) likely won’t help you but if there is a good medical bookstore near you the staff should be able to help you out. In Vancouver we have a book store called Odin Books that is a mental health book store and they were very helpful, check out if there’s something similar in your area.
If you can afford it or if your medical covers it I’d suggest talking to a mental health counsellor of some kind, they can be very helpful. The trick is to find one you mesh with, many will let you do a meeting for free to see if you’ll work well together so it’s worth asking.
It’s a positional problem with the neck–running and walking don’t bother it–but get me on a bike or swimming really aggravate it. I agree with you about changing my internal dialogue, but I don’t think Yoga would help from a physical standpoint (too many motions with the neck)/