my biggest problem,as to, living with chronic pain. non-sufferers dont understand its impact.

I have had 5 spine surgeries.no one understands why I won't do things or excuse myself to lay down for a hour or so.

I know exactly how you feel Adam, I stay indoors all the time. I go out once a week for a few hours and can't wait to get back in due to fear of people staring at me.Not sure why they stare though,i'm not ugly! Oh well, best of luck Anne

I'm 24 and suffer from neuropathic pain in my stomach. I work when I can but I know what you mean. I've had to have a lot of time off for the pain but when i go into work I always feel like people are judging because they can't see what is wrong. I'm on gabapentin at the moment and have also been referred for a pain management program.

Yes I agree but people dont tend to disguss this type of pain due to its invisible nature. I have severe IBS and diverticular disease and most certainly not discuss the problems that these combined problems have on my every day life. Now Ihavebeen diagnosed with TN and despite 10 mg amytriptaline daily am continually having breakthrough pain _ not as devastating

as it could be but all other symptoms are most definitely apparent.

My eyesight deteriorates from one day to another and you know the saying , (not firing on all cylinders ) well how about all cylinders are firing but not in the right order ? Does that ring any bells out there ?Sometimes I think I am out of my mind and doubt my ability to do my job!

as a newbie to nerve pain, I have to admit to being one of those who just didn't understand the depth of it. I think it's just one of those things that you don't truly understand until you're hit with it. Mine started after I was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis (Dec 2014) and they went in to do a biopsy (jan 2,2014). At some point I developed Peripheral Neuropathy in my head, esophagus, in particular. Now I'm on a liquid diet and my head explodes in fireworks every time my daughter plays the viola, or any noise happens. Gabapentin is my best friend. I had no idea the world could be this bizarre and painful. Trying to explain the depth of this pain to others is like trying to explain the smell of flowers to someone who has no sense of smell. As a migraine sufferer, it's similar to that experience-people think, "oh it's just a headache" when you're saying, "oh heck, no, I'd love it if it were just a headache". The way i cope is just knowing, in a schadenfreude sort of way, that they're experience something down the road that they'll try to explain to me, and when they do, I'll relate it back and then they'll finally understand. In the meantime, we all have these online forums. I have no idea how people coped beforehand. 

Boy, do I ever understand THAT! I have been struggling with severe chronic pain for over 35 years! Started out as shoulder pain. I worked as a waitress and thought carrying trays of glasses we my problem. I got pregnant, had an emergency C section, had tremendous back pain. My Dr said it would go away in 6 weeks.... Boy was HE wrong. By 10 weeks, I was using g a cane hunched over like an 80 year old. He said it was all in my head. I have a GREAT sense of direction.... Its my BACK, not my head. I researched and came across 'fibromyalgua'..... He said there was no such thing.... After 10 years, his WIFE developed fibromyalgia, and suddenly he was calling ME asking me how I dealer with it... Say WHAT??? Thru all this, I raised 5 of my own kids, 3 foster kids, held 3 jobs to support these kids. Now, I'm 63....strugglung every day. All my friends, even my own kids don't get it... Yes, they've seen me struggle, but I'm also a fighter, do they see me pushing to keep going and therefore can't grasp my unbelievable pain. I have sat in my room at night sobbing because my pain is do bad and nobody understands. I have pushed my kids away gesture I just can't bear to be touched, or worse, HUGE! The pain is unbearable. I truly sympathize with you. I can't even get my own kids to understand this pain, how could I ever get a stranger to get it???? Will you PLEASE pray for me too? I am certainly praying for you.....

My neurologist asked to me to to keep a record of my pain using a pain scale of 0-9, 0 being no pain, 9 being unbearable. After some thought i informed him that i didnt see how it would be of any benefit to him as he might understand my condition but he has no idea how the pain really feels. My 3 on that scale would probably be his 9. My pain is unbearable but im stuck with it and learning to deal with it. This is typical of the absence of understanding people have,. when your Dr asks for a number so that he knows how much pain your in. We dont just experience pain WE have to learn to live it.

Just curious, when i am in water my pain reduces almost instantly, when i get out of the water it comes back quickly and my body feels really heavy. any one else have this experience.

Adam.... I like that. It's my sons name.... Anyway, I always tell people if I were a fish, I'd be fine. In water, the body is not being attacked by natural gravity. In water, there US automatically less stress on joints, muscles, nerves. I tried all kinds of water therapy and learned quickly, the same as you, that in water I felt much better but by the time I got to the changing room the pain was back. Why was I paying enormous costs for this when I could do the same thing in my own bathtub for free.....? Have a 24'backyard pool..... Summers I LIVE out there, but colder weather is bad because I can't be in the water. I have tried hanging upside down.... Sounds silly, but really helps for the same reason as water.... Hanging upside down, ur body is reacting opposite if normal gravity. When upside down, my back discs separate a little, u car actually feel the blood flow through them, therefore less pain. But people MUST BE CAREFUL with blood pressure issues. Hanging upside down, then righting urself too fast car make you dizzy...... Do it SLOWLY!! I also tried gabapentin.... Never did a thing for me. Was like taking m&m's...... I have a large medical service dog. I raised & trained him (I'm a dog trainer), and I walk him 3 times a day. It's great because it FORCES me to keep moving and not giving up, but there have been LOTS of days, I nearly crawl back home, reach for my pain meds, then it sobbing til the pain subsides. No one understands this. They say "don't walk if it hurts", but they don't get that it hurts if I sit, stand, move, lie down.... It ALWAYS hurts, so why let my life pass by without participating? If it hurts either way, might as well DO SOMETHING as opposed to sitting and wallowing, right?