The Hurt of Chronic Pain: 5 Reasons Why It Is Often Misunderstood by Joyce Knestrick, CRNP, FAANP

More than 100 million people suffer with chronic pain – more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Most of us will experience chronic pain in our lifetime, but it doesn’t get the respect that other life-altering chronic conditions get. Here are the top reasons why chronic pain is misunderstood:

• There is no definitive test. People diagnosed with chronic pain have no objective way to measure it.

• It’s invisible. The only person who truly understands the pain is the person experiencing it.

• It’s variable. Like most conditions, some days are better than others, but the lack of proof makes some people skeptical of pain.

• Sometimes, it’s inexplicable. Chronic pain can be a side effect of conditions like cancer or arthritis or it can be the condition itself, and there isn’t always a known cause.

• Even providers don’t fully understand pain. Some people spend their whole lives looking for a treatment that works.

The inability to see chronic pain does not make it any less real. If you experience pain, find a provider you trust. Pain happens to everyone, and we all need to take it seriously.

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