@psychedancer THANK YOU! You have shared my husband's situation precisely. And from your perspective it means so much. He has suffered from chronic pain for at least 20 years and did all the things you described. Still, no one really understood. I want to cry for you, for him, for all who suffer this way but have been silenced. A nurse during one of his many hospitalizations once said said, compassionately, that she felt so bad for him. She said if you break a bone or have a wound people are so understanding and compassionate. But when they can't see your pain, they write it off. So true.

He has been fortunate to have friends who get it and that is a real blessing. They are his age, early 80's now, and either suffer with medical conditions of their own or have others in their life who do. That makes a huge difference.