My brother who works in the medical field, recently discussed this very issue. Fact is even with all his knowledge and experience working with pain clinics, the only way he can try to relate to what I am experiencing is to try to use his imagination since he's never experienced it. Even so his imagination isn't enough to make that leap. The only family member I can relate to on my condition is my cousin who has arachnoidiitis. She finally has relief with an opiate pump implant. The other person...

Some things that help me..

1) Be more outwardly focused. This accomplishes an number of things. First you don't dwell on your condition. Secondly, doing things like posting on these boards about other people's issue and offering what help I can makes me feel better. Just knowing I helped at all makes me happy and that gives me an endorphin release. Our bodies own pain killer.

2) Look for ways to keep distracted. I am currently working on a sudoku book my brother...