>This is an extremely harmful answer. Do not listen to this person. They just want to help, and for all anyone knows, they are helping. Saying it's an extreme

>This is an extremely harmful answer. Do not listen to this person. They just want to help, and for all anyone knows, they are helping. Saying it's an extremely harmful answer is not only untrue, it's harmful to discourage conversation that can lead to progress. However, it is helpful to let people know what options they have and who and what they can go to for help. GPs should be doing this, but you'd be surprised how little they know about chronic pain. I've yet to bump into a GP who forwards people with chronic pain in the right direction. >If you have chronic pain, see a pain management specialist This is so important. Few know there are chronic pain centers people can go to that literally specialize in just chronic pain. They can help. They usually consist of three doctors and a physical therapist. For people with years of chronic pain a combination of things needs to be done at once to help them get out of it. Also, optimism is helpful because it can prevent learned helplessness. Imagine living a life in chronic pain that could be cured, but instead every hypothetical was shot down, so not enough attempts towards a solution was made.