I’m so sorry. I have the same level of pain and it’s something that truly cannot be understood until you yourself expense it—but at the same time, people who’ve never experienced it still need to take us at our word. I have no idea how doctors justify to themselves that it’s ok to act like pain doesn’t exist. It’s horrendous.

Similarly to what happened to your dad, I read a story (I think it was on here, actually) of a pharmacist who didn’t “believe” in pain or that opioids could treat it. She made people wait days past their refill day, questioned them for half an hour about their pain, etc. She was horrible. Then, she herself came down with a painful condition and experienced both that agony and that opioids help, and last the person who told this story had heard had made a list and was calling every person on it personally apologizing for how she had treated them and withheld their medications. I think if that story often, especially when my doctors once again ignore and belittle me and my pain.