[Host] Chronic pain may be one of the toughest conditions to live with ...
because it colors every aspect of your life, day after day.
And that can leave you feeling helpless and out of control.
[Woman #1] "Pain has changed me. I'm not the fun person I used to be.
My friends don't call me much anymore ... and I don't blame them."
[Man #1] "I can hardly sleep because of the nearly constant throbbing pain ...
and it's really grinding me down.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a world of my own--just me and my pain."
[Woman #2] "I'll make plans to do something with my kids, but then the pain flares up and I can't carry through.
They're too young to understand. All they know is that I let them down."
[Host] Often, the pain switch gets turned on by an injury or illness ...
but sometimes ... for reasons we don't fully understand ...
the pain doesn't stop when you recover.
It's almost like there's a short circuit in the switch.
[Man #2] "I got hurt on the job.
I figured the pain would go away when the injury healed. But it didn't.
I couldn't work anymore ... I could barely get off the couch."
[Host] That ongoing pain can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression ...
all of which can make the pain worse.
[Woman #3] "I've had all kinds of tests, and they don't show any problems.
It's so frustrating. I wish somebody could tell me what's wrong."
[Man #3] "I know some people think it's all in my head.
If they could walk in my shoes for just half an hour, they'd know I'm not faking."
[Host] Chronic pain is very real, but tests may not show what's causing it ...
because it doesn't have a simple cause.
So, for most people, what works best is using a variety of treatments, such as physical therapy ... pain-relieving medicines ...
and therapies like CBT ... cognitive-behavioral therapy ...
or biofeedback ... or mindfulness meditation.
[Woman #4] "I was offended when my doctor suggested I see a counselor ...
like I was a mental case.
But she explained that in counseling I could learn ways to cope better with pain.
And I did. And the more I practiced what I learned, the better I felt."
[Host] It may take time, patience, and some trial and error to figure out the combination of treatments that will help you get your pain to a level you can live with.
It may be hard to ask for help ...
especially if you feel that people haven't listened to you in the past.
But it's very important to speak up for yourself and to work with your doctor to find the right treatments.
[Man #4] "I realized that the more I could tell my doctor about my pain ...
how bad it is, what helps, and what makes it worse ...
the better able my doctor would be to help me make a plan to manage it."
[Host] You might not get rid of your pain completely ...
But by taking an active role in your treatment, you'll give yourself the best chance of getting to a place where pain no longer controls your life.
