Chronic pain!  Chronic pain exists for millions of reasons and changes lives in thousands of ways.  Having been involved in healthcare research for many years talking to people who live each day with chronic pain we have realised that one of the really big issues is being able  to explain what it is like to family and friends.

Chronic pain can come from a wide range of different medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, diabetes and arthritis. You may find some of our previous blogs on chronic pain and pain management of interest.  Please have a look at them here at https://patienttalk.org/?tag=pain-management.

People with chronic pain describe their struggles in many different ways.  “My family think I’m lazy because I can’t move” and “I cry when no one else can see”.  Many hate the side effects of the medications such as drowsiness.  Countless people with chronic pain never seem to get a decent night`s sleep which limits  what they can achieve each day.  For many being understood by others is a daily struggle!

The aim of this blog is to provide a space for our readers to share  their experiences of trying to explain life with chronic pain to their families and friends.. Anything you wish to share with fellow readers would be of immense value. However you may wish to consider some of the following questions:

1. What is the primary medical condition behind your chronic pain?
2. What are your main symptoms of chronic pain? How long have you been suffering from chronic pain?
3. How did friends and loved ones initially react to your pain?
4. How did you try to explain life with chronic pain to them?
5. Do you feel today they understand you and your life with pain?
6. If you had to give one piece of advice for somebody who has just started their chronic pain journey what would it be?

Please feel free to use the comments box below to add anything you feel maybe of interest to our readers. This could include links to your blogs or web sites which have helped you in the past.

Many thanks in advance.