Anyone else feel Isolated and not go out due to chronic pain?

Posted by joannef20 @joannef20, Dec 23, 2025

Hello, I’m new here, I was recommended to join and interact with others who are in a similar situation as myself, I don’t go out much due to chronic pain and I feel isolated, anyone else feel the same?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

My privilege to share my experience strength and hope. May I ask the make and model of your "happy light" and where you purchased it? I live near Seattle beautiful PNW, but sun? Not so much especially during the winter. Cheers and here's to HEALING. TIA ⚘️

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Profile picture for joannef20 @joannef20

@pennycurious1 hello, thanks for your reply. I have immediate family around me including my husband but he doesn’t fully understand how it feels to be in pain all day every day, it’s tiring both physically and mentally

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@joannef20
Ya know? It's unreasonable for us to expect anyone who has not had the experience of chronic pain to truly "understand" because frankly, it's experiential. Example; I just had a 20 year old metal on metal (MOM) hip replaced due to metalosis (poisoning) from the two grinding together. Painful surgery?! 20/20 I made an agreement up front with my brilliant surgeon that there were certain things I didn't want and that pain management was absolutely a must. He had no qualms. He said "It's not like an initial hip replacement, we have to do....and it's a painful recovery. I didn't expect him to ACTUALLY know the extent of the pain because he has NEVER had a hip replacement, it's not logical that I should expect that, yet I read on my FB group way too often where patients are complaining about the debilitating pain of an INITIAL hip replacement. They expect the surgeon, who cuts, that's his expertise, to hold their hands post surgically without having that discussion in depth and without doing research. Which bring me back to your sweet husband. Maybe a gentle nudge for him to read a little about your dx, or maybe you do the research or show him what you've already found, which makes it easier for him to read. If he's not interested or too busy, we'll this is OUR journey anyway, right? Sending my best wishes and prayers your way 🙏🏼

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Profile picture for hjhd @hjhd

@scampano3 exercise is great, but when every step is painful, walking for pleasure is out. I walk when necessary, force myself to go to Costco or for groceries. I have not resorted to delivery or a Roomba (lol) I try to do home chores. I am sitting now with ice on my knees. We do what we have to do, but most don’t understand chronic pain. We all need to encourage each other.

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@hjhd I have had incredible results for my very painful feet and ankles. I have non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which is hell on earth for me, for 25+years. I bought a red light therapy device, that I found in a thrift store. It is from a company called DPL. I use it on my feet for 10 minutes daily. I made sure it was safe and results were well documented, before I tried it. I can walk outside the house and get groceries, without Lidocaine on my feet, for the first tome in many years. Otherwise I highly recommend Aspercream Lidocaine lotion or just Equate/Walmart brand, which is cheaper.

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Profile picture for bdwmc @bdwmc

My privilege to share my experience strength and hope. May I ask the make and model of your "happy light" and where you purchased it? I live near Seattle beautiful PNW, but sun? Not so much especially during the winter. Cheers and here's to HEALING. TIA ⚘️

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@bdwmc Verilux is the company. I bought my Happy Light 6 years ago and I have used it everyday since. It cost $50 at that time. I have little disposable income so that was a lot of cost, to me. It was the best money I have ever spent for my health. They are available online from Verilux. Cheers to you!!

REPLY
Profile picture for bdwmc @bdwmc

@joannef20
Ya know? It's unreasonable for us to expect anyone who has not had the experience of chronic pain to truly "understand" because frankly, it's experiential. Example; I just had a 20 year old metal on metal (MOM) hip replaced due to metalosis (poisoning) from the two grinding together. Painful surgery?! 20/20 I made an agreement up front with my brilliant surgeon that there were certain things I didn't want and that pain management was absolutely a must. He had no qualms. He said "It's not like an initial hip replacement, we have to do....and it's a painful recovery. I didn't expect him to ACTUALLY know the extent of the pain because he has NEVER had a hip replacement, it's not logical that I should expect that, yet I read on my FB group way too often where patients are complaining about the debilitating pain of an INITIAL hip replacement. They expect the surgeon, who cuts, that's his expertise, to hold their hands post surgically without having that discussion in depth and without doing research. Which bring me back to your sweet husband. Maybe a gentle nudge for him to read a little about your dx, or maybe you do the research or show him what you've already found, which makes it easier for him to read. If he's not interested or too busy, we'll this is OUR journey anyway, right? Sending my best wishes and prayers your way 🙏🏼

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@bdwmc Researching for myself has been the answer to my getting better. I need the knowledge so I understand WHY? I have this disease.

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Profile picture for bdwmc @bdwmc

My privilege to share my experience strength and hope. May I ask the make and model of your "happy light" and where you purchased it? I live near Seattle beautiful PNW, but sun? Not so much especially during the winter. Cheers and here's to HEALING. TIA ⚘️

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@bdwmc The model I have sits on a table. is actually called the Happy Light, from Verilux. They have been in business for a long time. I have had good service from them.

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Profile picture for charliegirl @charliegirl

@hjhd I have had incredible results for my very painful feet and ankles. I have non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which is hell on earth for me, for 25+years. I bought a red light therapy device, that I found in a thrift store. It is from a company called DPL. I use it on my feet for 10 minutes daily. I made sure it was safe and results were well documented, before I tried it. I can walk outside the house and get groceries, without Lidocaine on my feet, for the first tome in many years. Otherwise I highly recommend Aspercream Lidocaine lotion or just Equate/Walmart brand, which is cheaper.

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@charliegirl I have tried all the Lidocaine’s and OTC with no helpful results. But your red light suggestion is interesting and I may look into that. Thank you.

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Profile picture for charliegirl @charliegirl

@bdwmc The model I have sits on a table. is actually called the Happy Light, from Verilux. They have been in business for a long time. I have had good service from them.

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@charliegirl
Thank you!

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Profile picture for charliegirl @charliegirl

@bdwmc Verilux is the company. I bought my Happy Light 6 years ago and I have used it everyday since. It cost $50 at that time. I have little disposable income so that was a lot of cost, to me. It was the best money I have ever spent for my health. They are available online from Verilux. Cheers to you!!

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@charliegirl
I just put the verilux happy light tiuch plus in my cart. TY !

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Profile picture for bdwmc @bdwmc

@yram
I'd like to add my prayers as well. Our thoughts are POWERFUL. Thoughts are prayers, so it's helpful to be the observer of our thoughts. Where I focus my energy becomes my reality. The idea that a person is in a 10/10 pain condition, but still gets on a bike 5-10 minutes every morning, is a good example of how to change our energy, which the body follows. It's the mind, body & spirit connection. Pain is
Isolating, especially if I shut others out. Currently, the weather is cold and wet (PNW) so the very 'thought' is "Nope" not going out today. However, today I'm shifting that 'thought' to "It is going to feel so good when I come back." Best wishes, it's a new year and each day, a new beginning. ❤️‍🩹🙏🏼

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@bdwmc
Thanks so much . God bless
yram

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