A Good Day Vs. a Bad Day With Chronic Pain

What a good day and a bad day feel like with Chronic Pain.

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On a good day, I wake up after a restful night’s sleep, a rare occurrence during which I actually slept instead of tossing and turning all night.

When I realize my pain is going to be manageable, I let my mind wander about the possible things I might be able to do today.

On a bad day, the brain fog doesn’t get better after I wake up and I don’t feel refreshed, even though I’ve been in bed for hours.

I reach for a method of pain relief I hope will work — today, I’ll try medication and a heating pad. But it still might not be enough to take away the pain.

On a good day, I’m excited to do the everyday tasks that aren’t always possible for me, like showering, making breakfast, and cleaning up.

I try to pace myself and listen to my body, so I don’t overdo it and have to pay for it tomorrow.

On a bad day, I skip the shower and focus on drinking water, eating what I can tolerate, and finding the most comfortable position to lay in.

I turn on Netflix, but as the pain steals my attention and fatigue clouds my concentration, it’s hard to focus on anything else.

On a good day, I take a nap to recover from my morning, then meet up with a friend for a quick cup of coffee.

I’m thankful to be able to socialize since my pain has prevented me from going out lately.

On a bad day, I tell my friends I won’t be able to make it to our lunch date and hope they understand.

I wish I could go, but I know my body won’t be able to handle it and the pain will make it too hard to participate in the conversation.

On a good day and a bad day with chronic pain, I might not “look sick,” but the pain I’m feeling isn’t necessarily visible.

Even on a good day, I’m not symptom-free and still need to carefully manage my health.

If I need to cancel plans or ask for some extra support, please be kind.

Just because you can’t see the pain, that doesn’t mean it’s not there.