Krystin Navarro

The Invisible Side of Pain: What People Don’t See

Living with chronic pain is often like carrying a weight no one else can see. On the outside, you may look “fine.” You show up to work, smile through a conversation, or push through errands — and people assume that’s the full story. What’s hidden, though, is the fatigue, the mental load, and the endless decision fatigue that come with managing pain day after day.

This is the invisible side of pain — and it deserves to be acknowledged.

The Weight of Fatigue

Fatigue with chronic pain isn’t the same as being “tired.” It’s a bone-deep exhaustion that seeps into every task. Even simple things — taking a shower, cooking a meal, answering an email — can drain an entire day’s worth of energy. Many people living with pain have to constantly weigh whether an activity is worth the inevitable crash that follows.

This isn’t laziness. It’s energy budgeting for survival.

The Mental Load You Can’t See

Chronic pain means your brain rarely gets a break. You’re constantly tracking:

When to take medication.
How much movement is too much.
Whether that new symptom is normal or something to worry about.
If you’ll have the strength for tomorrow’s commitments.

It’s like running an endless mental checklist in the background — and it’s exhausting. Add in the stress of trying to appear “normal,” and the mental load doubles.

Decision Fatigue Is Real

Every choice has weight when you live with pain. Do I drive to the store today or save my energy for the doctor’s appointment tomorrow? Should I push through this ache or rest now and risk falling behind? Do I cancel plans again and feel guilty, or go and pay for it later?

This constant calculation wears down even the strongest person. What looks like a small decision from the outside is often a monumental one from the inside.

Raising Awareness: What You Can Do

For those supporting someone with chronic pain, awareness is the first step. You don’t need to “fix” it. What helps most is:

Believing them. Trust that their invisible struggles are real.
Being flexible. Understand when plans change last minute.
Offering support. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking, “What would make today easier for you?”
Noticing the effort. Recognize the bravery it takes just to show up.

Closing Thoughts

The invisible side of pain may not leave scars you can see, but it shapes daily life in profound ways. By raising awareness, we reduce stigma, create space for empathy, and remind those living with pain that they don’t have to carry it unseen.

If you’re someone living with invisible struggles — know this: your strength may not always be visible, but it is very real.

5 Things Your Pain Management Provider Wishes You Knew

From a PA Who Treats Chronic Pain Every Day

Chronic pain is complicated — and navigating pain management can feel like an uphill battle. As a physician assistant in pain management, I work with patients every day who are frustrated, tired, and often misunderstood.

Most patients don’t get a behind-the-scenes view of how providers think or why certain decisions are made. So today, I’m pulling back the curtain.

Here are five things your pain management provider wishes you knew — but might not have said out loud.

1. **We want to help you — but we have rules we must follow.**

You may feel like we’re gatekeeping medications or dragging our feet on treatment approvals. The truth? We’re often bound by strict DEA, CDC, insurance, and clinic policies. That means we can’t always prescribe what you want, even if we agree it might help.

We spend a lot of time navigating red tape — not because we don’t care, but because we have to protect you, ourselves, and our licenses. A big part of pain management is working within the system to get you the best care possible — and sometimes that means taking longer routes.

2. Pain management is a partnership — not a quick fix.

We’re not here to “cure” you — and we know you’ve probably heard that before. But pain management works best when we treat it like a long-term relationship with shared goals. We need your input, honesty, and consistency just as much as you need our expertise.

If you’re open-minded, communicative, and willing to engage with different strategies (not just medications), the chances of improvement are much higher. Chronic pain is a puzzle — and we’re trying to solve it together.

3. We’re trained to look beyond the pain score.

You might be asked, “What’s your pain on a scale of 0 to 10?” But we’re also paying attention to:

How you walk into the room
Your facial expressions and body language
Your mood, sleep, and activity levels
How your pain affects your function — not just how it feels

This helps us create a functional pain plan, not just treat a number. We want to know: What can’t you do because of your pain — and how can we help get that back?

4. Urine drug testing (UDT) isn’t about trust — it’s about safety and legality.

Yes, we know it feels invasive. But UDT is a legal and medical requirement in most pain clinics, especially when opioids are involved. It protects both you and us by confirming medication adherence and checking for dangerous combinations (like unprescribed benzos or fentanyl).

A surprise result doesn’t mean we assume the worst — but we do need to have honest conversations about it. Being upfront from the start helps us support you better and avoids misunderstandings.

5. We see your pain — even when it doesn’t show on a scan.

Not all pain shows up on MRIs or X-rays. Nerve pain, soft tissue disorders, and central sensitization are all real — and often invisible. Just because imaging is “normal” doesn’t mean your pain isn’t valid.

You deserve to be heard and believed. Our goal is to treat the person, not just the pictures.

Final Thoughts

Pain management isn’t perfect. It’s layered, personal, and often frustrating — for both patients and providers. But when you have a care team that listens, explains, and works with you, you can regain control over your life.

If this post resonated with you, stay tuned. I’ll be covering topics like:

👉 How to talk to your provider about pain
👉 The truth about opioid contracts
👉 Natural and alternative options for chronic pain
👉 Navigating disability, FMLA, and medical documentation

Until then, know that you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. There is hope. There is help. And there are people in your corner.

Let’s keep moving forward — together.
— Krystin Navarro, MMSc, PA-C, MSL-BC

Welcome to Living Well With Pain: A New Approach to Healing

Empowering You to Take Control of Your Health — From a PA Who Understands

Living with chronic pain can be exhausting, frustrating, and isolating. As a physician assistant in pain management, I’ve spent years helping patients manage their symptoms — not just with prescriptions or procedures, but with education, advocacy, and a whole-person approach.

That’s why I started Living Well With Pain — a blog created to empower people like you to take back control, understand your options, and build a life with less pain and more purpose.

Why This Blog?

Too often, patients are left in the dark — confused by medical jargon, insurance rules, or contradictory advice online. My goal is to cut through the noise and provide clear, honest, medically-informed content that supports your journey.

Here’s what you can expect:

✅ Real talk about what works — and what doesn’t
✅ Insights into medications, procedures, and holistic approaches
✅ Tips on managing flares, building routines, and working with your care team
✅ Behind-the-scenes knowledge most providers won’t tell you
✅ Encouragement, empathy, and realistic strategies to feel better

Whether you’re managing back pain, fibromyalgia, CRPS, migraines, or something else entirely — you deserve answers and a partner in your healing journey.

My Mission

I believe pain should be treated from the inside out — with respect for your body, your mind, and your story. My mission is to:

Educate patients so they can advocate for themselves
Demystify pain management tools and treatments
Empower people to live a fuller life despite limitations
Bridge the gap between science, practice, and humanity

Coming Up Next…

In the next post, I’ll be breaking down 5 Things Your Pain Management Provider Wishes You Knew — including what we really look for in visits, why UDTs matter, and how to get the most out of your treatment plan.

Make sure to subscribe or follow so you don’t miss it — and thank you for being here. I see you. I hear you. You’re not alone.

Let’s live well — even with pain.

— Krystin Navarro, MMSc, PA-C, BC-MSL