Today’s Daily Prompt is an easy one for me but only in the sense that I know something you don’t. Let me explain:
Chronic Pain. Most people don’t understand what it does to a person. They will never understand unless they experience it themselves.
Chronic pain stays in the forefront of your thoughts, all day every day. When you’re in constant pain, it becomes part of your thought process. Everything you want or need to do, you must consider your pain. Everywhere you want to go, you must consider your pain. If you want to visit someone, you must consider your pain. Will I be able to mop the floor today? Will I be able to cook something today? Will I have the energy to walk into a store and grab a few items? Will I be able to sit comfortably to watch my grandson play ball? When I go visit my family, will they understand when I have to leave? Will there be steps or stairs? Is the toilet going to be too low? Will there be handlebars to grip so I don’t fall? Will the grocery store have a scooter available so I don’t have to walk? Will someone be able to help me if I have trouble? These are just some of the things I have to consider.
Not many people understand what it’s like to be in pain constantly. I pray you will never have to deal with what I deal with. No matter what the pain is from, it’s debilitating. Pain sucks your energy away. Pain thwarts your abilities. Pain causes depression, sadness, and helplessness. It causes loneliness because you retreat from the people and things that made you happy before, the things that made you who you are… It destroys your life as you once knew it. You’re not the same person anymore. It changes you.
I hope you will keep this in mind when you’re dealing with a person with a chronic illness. You just have no idea what they are going through.
Being Aunt Debbie 
You put this perfectly Deb! I also live with chronic pain from Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease and sciatica (to name a few). You are quite correct that people don’t get it unless they have to deal with it. All the things you mentioned are concerns of mine on a daily basis too. I have my own mobility scooter and it is always an issue wondering if I want to go somewhere, is the store laid out to accommodate my scooter? Can I even get into the store? If I have to get off and use a cane will I be able to do what I need to do and get back to my scooter before the pain is unbearable? There is so much to consider. Gone are the days of just taking off on my bicycle for a ride without a care in the world. I hope you make the most of your day and take good care of yourself today. Happy Friday!
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Thank you so much! I’m sorry you have to deal with so many issues!
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Thankfully my pain has been in a reasonable level this week… even in spite of the rain that came through yesterday. But I get what you are saying. One of my biggest fears on this trip I will be taking soon is being in a car multiple hours, I will get so stiff. Thank God I have some pain meds and muscle relaxers… I know not everyone does. I am pretty lucky with some great doctors who believe. May you have some low pain days my friend! (((HUGS)))
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Thank you! And good luck to you on your trip!
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Thanks so much!
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You’re welcome, friend!
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