Around 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which makes it one of the most common conditions. From spinal injury to fibromyalgia, there are many causes of chronic pain, but no matter what causes the pain, it affects the life in the smallest details. The daily life challenges of people who suffer from chronic pain are often unknown, because this is a silent, invisible condition. One of the most important problems people with chronic pain have to face is the fact others can’t see their pain and believe it is all fake, just an excuse not to do something. Here are some of the life areas that are completely changed by chronic pain.
Sleep
When you have chronic pain sleep becomes elusive. Because your entire body hurts, you can’t get proper rest without having to rely on medication. Chronic pain is drains your body, so most people who suffer from this condition are in bed at an early hour. In a specialized pain care center you can learn how to cope with continuous pain and how to relax before you go to sleep, in the attempt to get as much rest as possible. The sleep schedule of people with chronic pain is often made by the pain, so they try to get as much rest as possible before they are woken up by their condition.
Walking around the city
Pain is not visible, so taking public transportation can be a challenge, as people don’t see you are in pain and rarely offer you a seat. Many people rely on a walking stick to help them get through the crowds safely. Even so, a daily commute to and from work can drain you and leave you in severe pain. Apart from going to work, one must also go shopping, which is another huge challenge for people who live with chronic pain, as they are sometimes unable to do their necessarily shopping.
Work
People who struggle with chronic pain also have to make a living, which is another serious problem for them. Having to work under pain or under pain killers not only affects your productivity, but also your work schedule. Most people with chronic pain plan their work days around their condition, so they do the most demanding tasks in the morning. Soft pillows and special desk arrangements are a must have when your entire body is in permanent pain.
Socializing
Making and keeping friends is tough when your only desire is to go to bed as soon as possible. One of the things which change when you suffer from chronic pain is how you make friends and how much time you spend with them. Before you go somewhere you have to check if you have enough pain medication, if the place where you are going is disabled people-friendly and how far it is from the hospital, in the case of an emergency. Apart from this, pain makes it hard to enjoy your evening, so you can’t just relax and have a chat with your friends.
