I am 32.
First, of all to have the energy to be able to articulate the amount and depth of pain you are in is difficult even for those of us with higher educations, when faced with a severe amount of pain, because when you are in that kind of pain you are not very functional (sleep deprivation, etc.). I found the best discript
ion is that my crohns pain is like a constant chemical burn, which never goes away but does vary in intensity. My bone pain is like being hit with a baseball bat (as a former catcher and having worked in law enforcement had this happen more then once) or taking a couple of shots to the body armor. Hurts to breathe.
The mental aspects of deep pain range between apathy, crying, and snarling, and sometimes you can go thru those emotions in a very short period of time (i.e. minutes). Needless to say this can be very hard on relationships, and because not only is one sometimes not nice to be around, but there is such deep isolation in being ill and in pain. I was in so much pain I had to write a notes to the social worker for what I needed, because it hurt so much to walk to her office that all I could do was cry, there was no way I could even talk by the time I got to her office, let alone articulate myself well.
I wish health care professionals understood how much being in chronic pain can hurt your quality of life. Those things that make life worth living and enduring the pain get further and further out of reach, until you wonder if you will ever be able to get even a little piece of them.
I am sure I will think of more to add later.