So I looked up central sensitization, and it is a real condition. It is when the pain receptors have gotten overloaded and are ultra sensitive to stimuli. Like a car alarm set too sensitive and goes off when a leaf falls on it. It's a nerve problem not a mind problem.
The pain that I have changes from a constant undercurrent of ache (like the next-day ache after a fall) to pain that breaks through 800mg of motrin and extra-strength tylenol. Enough to send me to bed with motrin and vicodin. It can feel like having rapped my fingers on the wall or the echo after hitting your funny-bone.
Sure, it's bearable- but just so. If it was short-term I would be able to push through, but this idea that this is untreatable chronic pain that I will just have forever is daunting.
I don't have function problems, but it hurts to turn doorknobs, to grip a pen and push down enough to make a mark (not terrible but there) it hurts to turn the steering wheel, to lift my favorite coffee mug. Sound-waves from speakers hurt me (vibration) and the vibration from sitting in a car. 2-3 hours of standing/walking (like a museum) kills my lower joints. It all hurts- sometimes worse then others, but never not hurting.
I really was hoping that something was wrong- that there was something new to fix, to get rid of this constant, everyday pain. The idea of just saying "nope, nothing that we can do. This is just part of the condition." is a real blow to me.