Sanjiv Lakhia, D.O. on The Friendship Cost of Chronic Pain

What if the friend who keeps canceling, pulling back, or seeming distant is not losing interest, but running out of capacity? SEASON 5: Friendship, Wellbeing and Wellness. Episode 7 In this episode of Friendship Matters, we explore a powerful and often overlooked truth. Chronic pain does not just affect the body. It changes how people connect, communicate, withdraw, and heal. Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia joins us to unpack the difference between pain and suffering, and why that distinction matters for friendship. Pain may begin in the body, but suffering often grows through fear, uncertainty, isolation, and the meaning we attach to what is happening. This conversation moves beyond medical treatment into the lived experience of pain. Dr. Lakhia explains how pain can make a person's world smaller, why people often pull back from social connection, and how friends can offer support without trying to fix or control the journey. Key Insights to Consider Why chronic pain can quietly shrink a person's social world How pain consumes emotional and cognitive capacity The difference between physical pain and the suffering created by fear and uncertainty Why withdrawal may reflect limited capacity, not lack of care How loneliness can affect inflammation, immune response, and healing Why friends may be uniquely positioned to offer perspective, levity, and honest support The importance of being a passenger, not the driver, in someone else's pain journey How small practices like breathwork, presence, and daily rituals can support nervous system regulation Why redefining friendship expectations during illness can protect connection This episode offers a more compassionate lens for understanding what happens when pain changes someone's ability to show up. If you have ever been hurt by a friend's distance, or if you have been the one quietly pulling away, this conversation invites a different question. Not "what is wrong with this relationship," but "what might be happening beneath the surface that I cannot see?"   Friendship Matters Guest Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is a double board-certified physician in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, specializing in non-surgical spine care and chronic pain. With over two decades of clinical experience, he combines conventional interventional treatments with evidence-based integrative approaches to help patients restore function and reduce pain without over-reliance on medications or surgery.   He is also the author of The Healing Pain Pyramid, where he outlines a whole-person framework for addressing pain through movement, nutrition, mindset, and targeted therapies. Known for bridging the gap between traditional medicine and root-cause care, Dr. Lakhia focuses on helping patients take control of their health and reclaim long-term performance and quality of life.