What is it like living with chronic pain? (including 29 chronic pain quotes)

I was wondering how to describe what it's like living with chronic pain the other day because the hospital nurse asked me. I knew what it felt like but had never really put it into words for someone who doesn't experience it.

WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN? 

Living with pain that has become persistent, and lasting longer than 3 months causes both physical and emotional stress. Whatever condition or accident that caused the initial pain has now become a condition in its own right because it has changed the nervous system of the body and so many other day to day things. 

I have collected some quotes from people living with chronic pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain and migraines. What they said is shared here so others will understand, a little more about, the impact of living with pain that is chronic. 

CHRONIC PAIN QUOTES

Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It’s quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I’ll need to recover. ~ Gerri Kassel, My Journey to find my health. 

I’d rather not take this medication, or any medication for that matter, but it is the only one that controls my pain adequately enough to allow me to function on a daily basis... I take the smallest dose possible to enable me to remain as clear-headed as possible to do what I need to do each day...

Even with the minimal opioids I take, I still have pain all the time, 24 hours a day; without opioids, life would be torture. ~  Alison Moore, author.

Most people assume: That because I don’t admit to being in pain each day, I must have pain-free days. I don’t. My last pain-free day was November 2002. Every day since then has held at least a moderate level of pain. ~ Life With A Pebble 

I hate all pain, Given or received; we have enough within us. ~ Lord Byron.

Our already chronic condition becomes worse for a time, symptoms become more pronounced and this then triggers a whole host of accompanying issues from migraine, muscle & joint pain, fatigue……..the list goes on. ~ Tracey Marinelli, Fibro Fantastic.

The trouble with chronic pain is that it is so easy to become accustomed to it, both mentally and physically. At first it's absolutely agonizing; it's the only thing you think about, like a rock in your shoe that rubs your foot raw with every step. ~ Robert J. Wiersema, author.

For many people living with chronic pain, opioid medications are a critical component to managing their pain and overall quality of life. However, the nationwide crackdown on opioids has put chronic pain sufferers in an impossible situation. ~ Sue, Fibro Daze.

Few things a doctor does are more important than relieving pain. . . pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The quality of mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here, of all places, it should not be strained. ~ Marcia Angell, The Truth about the Drug Companies.

I was always in pain. I called the pain at the time "stress neck" since it often flared during deadlines, some of them self-imposed. ~ Kathleen Mueller, Fibroworks

I often wished that more people understood the invisible side of things. Even the people who seemed to understand, didn't really.  ~ Jennifer Starzec, Determination

Many a day I’ve felt despair, rage and profound disappointment that I could not do certain jobs. My life has changed so much over the years that I can hardly believe it. ~ Barbara McLullich,  Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Pain.

There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster. ~ Dalai Lama XIV

I wish I could experience that blissful feeling again when your whole body relaxes and melts into the bed and all the tension of the day just evaporates. I wish I could lay in my bed without experiencing pain. ~ Fighting Fibromyalgia

Few things a doctor does are more important than relieving pain... pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The quality of mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here, of all places, it should not be strained. ~ Marcia Angell

We all want to be able to live pain-free, to enjoy our lives. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. ~ Cynthia Baughman, My Inspired Fibro Life

You just do it. You force yourself to get up. You force yourself to put one foot before the other and you refuse to let it get to you. You fight. You cry. Then you go about the business of living. That’s how I’ve done it. There’s no other way. ~ Elizabeth Taylor

We now have limitations and before there were none. We now look at life in a totally different way. Even when the pain levels subside there is a place within us that knows it's only a matter of time before it will rear its ugly head again. ~ Rosemary Lee, Seeking Equilibrium.

Don't build a wall around your own suffering - it may devour you from the inside. ~ Frida Kahlo

Chronic pain has a massive impact in our lives. And it is important to remember that pain doesn’t exist in a vacuum all by itself… it has symptoms. And these impact our functionality along with the pain itself. ~ Nikki Albert, Brainless Blogger

Any practice of prayer and meditation can kick start your healing journey and your path to reducing pain. ~ Sue Ingebretson, Rebuilding Wellness.

Sometimes chronic pain can get to a point where it is getting in the way of the life you want to live. I have dreams and things I want to achieve, but it is starting to feel as if my pain and fatigue are getting in the way. ~ Beverley, Blooming Mindfulness

On bad pain and fatigue days, it may be a tough mental battle, but you can do it!  Remember my favorite word?  Hope.  Never give up HOPE! ~ Amy, The Fibro Frog.

The pain turns into little to no sleep which turns into depression which turns into difficulty being a friendly human which turns into stress which turns into more pain! That cycle is so forked up… but in the midst of all that, there are some good times. ~ Tamiko, my foggy brain.

Recovery begins with embracing our pain and taking the risk to share it with others. We do this by joining a group and talking about our pain. ~ John Bradshaw 

When you have chronic illness, the slightest thing can have a knock-on effect. Just one day of significantly overdoing things can leave you with weeks of symptoms – more fatigue, increased pain and a reduction in stamina. ~ Katie Cupcake.

I will stand up and have my voice be heard, continue to raise awareness, fight for a cure, inspire those who feel like their world is now over, and be a voice for the voiceless sufferers because I know you’re out there... Michelle Morales, Living Extra Ordinary

 These symptoms are genuine, and they are life-changing. ~ Susan, Living Creatively With Fibro.

People assume you aren’t sick 

unless they see the sickness on your skin 

like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting. 

My heart is a prison of Have you tried?s 

Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating better? 

Have you tried not being sad, not being sick? 

Have you tried being more like me? 

Have you tried shutting up? 

Yes, I have tried. Yes, I am still trying, 

and yes, I am still sick. 

Sometimes monsters are invisible, and 

sometimes demons attack you from the inside. 

Just because you cannot see the claws and the teeth 

does not mean they aren’t ripping through me. 

Pain does not need to be seen to be felt. 

Telling me there is no problem 

won’t solve the problem. 

This is not how miracles are born. 

This is not how sickness works.

~ Emm Roy, The First Step