EP7 - Proving Pain & Surviving the Benefits System

In Episode 7 of Pain. Full. Truth., I open up about the other trial I face — not in a hospital, but in front of the benefits system. Living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) means constant pain, but it also means constantly proving that pain to strangers.I talk about the endless paperwork, the tick-box questions that never capture reality, and the assessments that make you feel like you’re on trial for your own life. I share how this process chips away at your pride, affects your mental health, and ripples through your family.This episode also looks ahead to what comes next — my two-week Pain Management course at Guy’s & St Thomas’, the build-up to the DRG stimulation trial, and the uncertainty of knowing my future depends on a 50% pain reduction target.If you’ve ever battled the benefits system, doubted yourself while filling in forms, or felt invisible in your own pain — this one’s for you.💙 Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/painfulltruthpod