alternatives to anti-depressant meds

[bagpussinamerica]

Last year I was becoming quite depressed due to inability to do things because of my injury, social isolation, and this long term w/c thing. Everyone goes through it. But this was when I discovered that I can not take any meds for this because, for some strange reason, I have an allergic/adverse reaction to them. Any of them. I was advised by my doctor to best seek counseling since I can't take the meds. Now I am wondering about something. In England, if one became depressed the doctors there would write up a prescription to a local gym for assessments and work out plan that would suit the person the best. This always worked really well for the clients I referred for this type of intervention.

Can doctors here do the same and would workers comp approve?

[Still in Limbo]

I'm not Sure, but I do know My PM Dr. has PT, Work Hardening, Acupuncture, and Aqua Therapy Available, along with the Med. Regimen, and ESI Shots! and w/c Approves Them for Pain, I'm not Sure about the Depression Part though. Good Question, Maybe Someone with More Knowledge will be along to Answer!!

[inpainokla]

how does one go about getting depression added to a claim and who would one talk to about it..its kinda weird for me to talk about bc ive always been so strong but scared that theres something going on that i cant control and would like to catch it b4 it gets bad..what are some early symptoms of depression?

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_s...atment.htm

[bagpussinamerica]

I understand how you feel. I was always very strong and independent, and never needed to ask anyone for any type of help. I was pretty much ok for the first year here, but when I started to get pain again and was placed back on TTD, I started to feel somewhat in a panic. Then I became more isolated when, after a fall that was directly related to my injury, I started to feel unsafe driving as well. I slowly became more and more isolated. Add that to being unable to do things around the house, or go shopping as I wanted and I headed way down. I actually called my surgeon and my attorney before I went to my doctor for depression. W/C accepted it being directly related to being injured. I think a lot of us here go through it one time or another.

As for using exercise to fight depression. Well, it is used a lot in England. For pain as well. I just feel that if I could just start to at least get some type of exercise, I would feel better. But I am frightened to go walking etc, by myself, since that is when I tend to become more vulnerable. Nothing more frightening and humbling that taking a tumble on the road when everyone else is walking right by. Yesterday a friend took me out into town and I slipped several times on the ice...didn't fall, and actually lost my balance quite a lot.

[inpainokla]

i guess i will bring it up to my dr before seeing about adding it to my claim bc ive never felt any of this before so i would think it would have to be due to the injury and just having so much time on my hands