What’s one thing you wish people understood about living with chronic pain?

That it's NOT my fault! I did NOTHING to "cause" my condition AND there's NO way to prevent its rapid progression.

That I wish that I could make plans ahead of time, and that I wouldn't have to cancel. That I was NOT like this!

As for awareness, I am a very vocal advocate! I advocate for the responsible use of opioids medications. I advocate for treatments that can actually help.

I wish people wouldn't pass judgment what person in their righ y mind would want to endure pain every second of the day , for them to understand u can't work a regular job that it's all u can do somedays to walk that they would quit making u feel like scum because u can't work it adds on to the overwhelming depression I already have that I worked as a nurse for 18 years loved helping others and I didn't judge people what I would give to feel normal again, to continue my desire to help others and now I cant I don't fake it ive had numerous procedures And surgeries and doctors don't just operate on u for fun my conditions are real I have to take pain medication that's takes edge off of pain I hate how u are treated if u take pain medication they treat u like a drug addict what's worse is when it's your own family.i know that was alot but im brutally honest about it pain makes my depression worse because I can't do what I want to do the fact when I eventually have grandchildren I can't run after them that dealing with pain everyday makes life suck so I do what I can and that's all I can do