The festivities of the holiday season aren’t always as joyful for people with chronic pain as they are for others. Energy and pain levels don’t become more manageable simply because it’s December — in fact, hallmarks of the holiday season like social events, shopping, cooking, entertaining and travel can make chronic pain even worse. Add in pressure from friends and family to participate and questions about health, and this time of year can be extra hard on chronic pain patients.
To help loved ones better understand the challenges people living with chronic pain conditions deal with this season, we partnered with the US Pain Foundation to ask our Facebook communities what they wished people knew about them during the holidays. Hopefully, greater respect for the complications of chronic pain in the holiday season will create a more sensitive, inclusive and peaceful celebration.