Some days when you feel better, you might over-do and have 3 days in bed
because of it. Moderation always!

Don't ever apologize for not being able to do something, or not meeting an expectation of someone else because of your pain, or canceling plans, etc. YOU have done NOTHING wrong.

Although others may not understand pain and how difficult it is, I know how
it affects me. Unless someone has literally locked in my shoes and know
how it feels to be in pain I really don't care about their opinions.
Although I am in pain constantly everyday it does not define who I am.

Own your pain and let nobody convince you to do anything you are not completely knowledgeable of. I didn’t own mine at first, resulting in irreparable damage. Now, I insure all care givers involved know my position and my limits. And having a forum like this to support and inform those positions is priceless.
Thanks for reading and be well. 😉

Living with chronic pain is extremely demanding.

I was in denial for many years -thinking it was muscle imbalance or just something I was doing wrong. But it just kept getting worse as the years went by. By my 50th birthday I was completely alone and looking in the mirror.. I came up with a survival plan that works very well; it's very detailed so I can only say a little bit here..

As others here have said - own your pain - let the medical professionals try to help you with it but, nobody knows what you're going through except you.

Make a mental or a written list of things that work well and things that really don't. And start gravitating towards the positive stuff. Sometimes you lose friends but if your friends want to hang out in bars where it's just going to make things worse you got to go. Make new friends in places that help you - like a yoga class or an aqua aerobics class or with a group of hikers...

Each day start making plans for the next day. This can help you to get out of bed because you have something to do. And have an A B and C list.
Perhaps you want to get up in the morning and go for a bicycle ride but, you're just not feeling up to it so you're going to go to the B plan - and go for a walk.
And if you're really out of it - and thinking that's not going to work either - then it's time to possibly hit the yoga mat and make some nourishing food and drink.

Keep searching for things to help you. I have learnt a lot from medical professionals that post videos on YouTube.

Be proud of your accomplishments and feel comfortable around other people but, when it comes to talking about your chronic challenges - don't try to make healthy people understand - come to this website and speak with us. We understand you.

Hold your head up high.
I don't know why some of us have been given such challenges in life. But perhaps it's all part of the master plan.
We do the best that we can in life and as we do it - we're possibly helping others too.
Maybe that's our job 🙏