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Inflammation may be the link between chronic pain and depression (C-reactive protein is a marker)
Medical Xpress / Yale University / Science Advances ^ | April 15, 2025 | Isabella Backman / Rongtao Jiang et al

Posted on 04/21/2025 3:48:48 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Chronic pain—or pain that lasts at least three months—is closely intertwined with depression. Individuals living with pain's persistent symptoms may be up to four times more likely to experience depression, research shows.

Now, a new study shows that a person's risk of depression increases alongside the number of places in the body in which they experience pain. Furthermore, inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation) help explain the association between pain and depression.

This finding suggests that the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and depression may be driven by systemic inflammation, the researchers say.

The team analyzed data from the UK Biobank—a long-term study that has collected extensive health information from more than 400,000 individuals over 14 years. UK Biobank participants reported whether they were experiencing pain that interfered with daily life and identified the sites and duration of their pain. The categories for pain sites included head, face, neck, back, stomach, hip, knee, and general pain. The dataset also included if and when the participants were diagnosed with depression.

The researchers analyzed data from participants with both chronic and acute (lasting less than three months) pain. They found that both types of pain from all body sites were associated with depression, and that chronic pain was more strongly associated than acute pain. Furthermore, having chronic pain in multiple parts of the body was linked to a greater risk of depression than having pain at a single site.

The UK Biobank also included assessments of participants' blood. The Yale researchers used these data to look for inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive proteins, platelets, and white blood cells.

They found that several of these inflammatory markers helped explain the relationship between pain and depression—and C-reactive proteins in particular were the strongest variable.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS:
It seems one’s risk for depression maps to C-reactive protein being higher, along with the number of pain locations one has.

Use this to help yourself or others.

1 posted on 04/21/2025 3:48:48 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 04/21/2025 3:49:25 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

“Inflammation may be the link between chronic pain and depression (C-reactive protein is a marker)”

Geez, did we need a study (taxpayer funded?) to come up with that conclusion?


3 posted on 04/21/2025 3:58:10 PM PDT by antidemoncrat ( )
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To: antidemoncrat

Hey regarding inflammation I’ve tried Methylene Blue and it is amazing for inflammation...

It is off patent since it was invented in 1875 or so, so don’t expect any AMA affiliated healthcare providers to tell you about it.


4 posted on 04/21/2025 4:11:16 PM PDT by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (You can vote totalitarians in but you can never vote them out...)
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To: ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton

gives you a nice denim blue tongue for the day too.


5 posted on 04/21/2025 4:23:17 PM PDT by crosdaddy
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To: ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton

“Hey regarding inflammation I’ve tried Methylene Blue and it is amazing for inflammation...”

I’ve seen a lot of pro/con discussions re MB on various sites, especially regarding purity. Are there any particular brands you’ve had success with?


6 posted on 04/21/2025 4:31:53 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
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To: crosdaddy

The blue can be eliminated with citric acid, such as adding lemon juice to a M-Blue and water mix. Takes a few minutes after about a teaspoon.


7 posted on 04/21/2025 4:36:02 PM PDT by Norski
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To: ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton

BKMK


8 posted on 04/21/2025 4:42:27 PM PDT by lizma2 (Re-assignation on MLK Jr.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Honestly, there doesn’t need to be some kind of physical connection like that. Being in pain is a burden enough and the thought of facing it day after day is enough to push anyone into a depressed state.


9 posted on 04/21/2025 4:44:08 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus)
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To: Magic Fingers

That blue stuff should not be taken lightly if you are taking metformin. Read up before you jump into taking amthing just because you read about it.


10 posted on 04/21/2025 5:27:38 PM PDT by Ikeon ( Why don't they, do what they say? Say what they mean? One thing leads to another. )
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To: ConservativeMind

After 3 whiplash accidents, none my fault, and decades of medications, physical therapy, etc, I eliminated sugar/candy. Enteric coated ibuprofen and something called Relief Factor are great ways to go.

Above all else,

GET UP AND MOVE!**

If all you can do is get up and walk to the next room,

GET UP AND WALK TO THE NEXT ROOM!

Do that enough, and eventually walk to more rooms. Walk around outside.

During one of my rehabs, I could only walk one half of a block. Then, a block. It was the 1980s, and there were video game parlors that were a godsend. It was 3 blocks away. It took a while. When I could eventually walk to the parlor and back, I would spend just a little time, with a roll of quarters. Later, I could spend more time there. I became so efficient at a few of the games, just one quarter could last half an hour, sometimes.

There will be days when you do not, should not, get up and move. Everyone is different. Every injury/condition can manifest itself differently, so talk to others about what is right for you and your situation. However, if a medical professional tells you not to move for too long a time, find a better medical professional. If you can get to a pool, just walk in the pool.

** - It can hurt like hell at first. The only people who do not feel pain, no longer feel anything at all. You will be a long time dead.


11 posted on 04/21/2025 5:31:57 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try)
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To: ConservativeMind
This finding suggests that the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and depression may be driven by systemic inflammation, the researchers say.

Wow. Really? /s

12 posted on 04/21/2025 5:43:13 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: ConservativeMind

Thanks
BFL


13 posted on 04/21/2025 6:43:56 PM PDT by Faith65 (Isaiah 40:31 )
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To: ConservativeMind

Here is an experiment. Start a dozen clinically depressed individuals on Vitamin D3 supplements- 125 mcg a day. The results should be visible within a very short time. two people I know, one of whom read about D3 and one of whom I pressed the D3 on were over the depression within two days
and have stayed that way. They have spread their good news and others they know have repeated that. There are authorities that say that Depression from Manic Depression to Winter Blues are due to Vitamin D deficiency. Sunshine on the skin in the summer and supplements in the winter. If the Pharmaceutical companies could figure out how to make “suitable” profit from those supplements it would become the reatment of choice in Medicine. It doesn’t manage the problem. It fixes it.


14 posted on 04/21/2025 7:12:38 PM PDT by arthurus (covfefe ^*^ )
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