When anybody suggests knowing anything about my pain, I ask them if they 'feel' the pain that I'm enduring. You cannot know what somebody feels because you are not them- that goes for your P.A. I have a very high pain threshhold and if I can't get up and walk because my legs won't hold me (the pain is at times that severe) can a doctor or P.A. or anybody for that matter tell me that it *shouldn't* be that painful based on what other people experience?! He#$ No! It doesn't matter what other people *generally* experience, what matters is how your pain is affecting you. Don't allow anybody to tell you what you feel or what you *should* feel based on studies. As you said, until they walk a mile in *your* shoes, they have no clue as to what you're dealing with. Good luck!