One of the hardest parts about having a spinal cord injury is the invisible symptoms. Chronic pain is at the top of that list. For many, it isn’t just “one kind” of pain. It can be nerve pain that feels like burning or electric shocks, muscle spasms that come without warning, or musculoskeletal pain from sitting in a chair all day. Some days it’s tolerable, some days it feels unbearable. Managing pain isn’t simple either. It comes with costs: medications, physical therapy, adaptive equipment, and sometimes treatments insurance won’t even cover. And yet, life doesn’t stop. We show up at work, for our families, for our dreams, even when pain is tagging along. So if you’ve ever wondered what life after SCI is like, remember: it’s not always the visible challenges that weigh the heaviest. Be kind, be patient. Especially if you have a loved one going through this. Don’t compare them with someone else you know “who is on a wheelchair and does xyz”. And while I have you here, no, you...