Depression, chronic pain a vicious cycle

**Nate** · #1 05-31-2010, 02:33 PM

Depression, chronic pain a vicious cycle

By DR. YONG H. TSAI, ON CALL
May 31, 2010 12:05 AM 0 CommentsVote 0 Votes

"Our brains are made up of billions of cells called neurons that communicate with each other to control our bodies. Communication between neurons relies on chemicals called neurotransmitters which transmit, relay, amplify and modulate all kinds of signals. Development of our bodies -- physical or emotional -- is tightly controlled by different neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines and so on. At this point, researchers have identified more than 50 neurotransmitters, all of which are well coordinated and tightly controlled to maintain proper body function and balance.
Pain receptors are located within nerve endings throughout skin, muscles, ligaments and joints. When injury, inflammation or disease occurs, local pain receptors detect signals. Subsequently, neurotransmitters, which are located in each nerve cell, the spinal cord and brain, transmit electrical impulses from the pain receptor to the peripheral nerve, up the spinal cord and to a particular part of the brain. Pain signals are modulated by several different neurotransmitters. When the amounts of a particular neurotransmitter are too high or too low, pain signals can be exaggerated or even distorted.
Patients with fibromyalgia (FMS) suffer widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome and other symptoms. FMS has been associated with abnormal quantities of several neurotransmitters, including: decreased serotonin (the sleep cycle, pain processing, body temperature, appetite, sex drive, and mood), norepinephrine ("fight or flight" response, alertness, and memory), substance P and glutamate (pain relay and process). Patients with FMS have decreased norepinephrine, serotonin, but elevated substance P and glutamate. Sufferers also show abnormality in some hormones such as growth, cortisone and cytokines..."

Click on the link for the full article:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/columns/on-call/2010/05/31/depression-chronic-pain-a-vicious-cycle.html

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