How does chronic pain affect a person socially?

How does chronic pain affect a person socially?

Marc Darrow (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Joint Rehabilitation Sports Medical Center, Inc. ) gives expert video advice on: How does chronic pain affect a person psychologically?; Are analgesics effective for managing chronic pain? and more...

The social aspects of chronic pain are disastrous for a person. Oftentimes they become drug seekers, meaning that they need narcotics to stay focused in their life and to be able to function; and they feel guilty about that. So, they have this thing going on where they don't want to take pain medicine because they think it's copping out; they should be able to take their pain. At the same time the doctors are saying, "No, you really shouldn't be in pain, so you need to have enough medication onboard so you don't have pain." and many patients become addicted. As a result, their spouses look at them very negatively, their friends look at them very negatively, and it's a very sad thing to see.