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Your back aches as the meeting drags on. Your wrist throbs while you race to finish a report. Mid-shift at the grocery store, a migraine begins to build.
If this resonates, you're not alone. Roughly one in four U.S. adults lives with chronic pain—and the numbers are rising. In 2023, 23% of adults reported experiencing pain on most days or every day over the prior three months, up from 19% in 2019.
Beyond the personal toll, chronic pain carries a staggering economic burden: an estimated $722 billion annually in lost productivity. For employers and the broader economy, this isn't just a health issue—it's a workforce challenge.
As researchers who study workplace experiences, we set out to understand why chronic pain so frequently derails people's ability to work—and sometimes forces them out of work entirely.
What We Studied
In collaboration with Kimberly Rocheville (Creighton University) and Njoke Thomas (Boston College), we conducted interviews with 66 U.S. workers experiencing chronic pain—defined as pain lasting three months or longer. Our participants, recruited between 2019 and 2021, represented diverse professions: attorneys, teachers, retail staff, law enforcement, healthcare workers, and more. They lived across the country, predominantly in urban areas, and 78% were women—a reflection of both higher chronic pain prevalence among women and greater willingness to discuss pain experiences.
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Their conditions varied widely: back injuries, migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other persistent pain sources.
The "Ideal Worker Body" Trap
Across professions and pain types, a striking pattern emerged: participants felt intense pressure to embody what we call the "ideal worker body"—a physique assumed to be strong, healthy, and endlessly capable of meeting job demands.
Whether stocking shelves or drafting legal briefs, workers described feeling compelled to:
- Walk without limping, even when every step hurts
- Lift heavy items to avoid appearing "weak."
- Sit motionless through long meetings despite discomfort
- Hide pain-management strategies like stretching, icing, or taking breaks
This pressure wasn't just about productivity—it was about identity. Many participants tied their self-worth to their ability to "push through," prioritizing work over physical well-being. Previous research links these expectations to mental health strain; our findings show they can worsen physical health too.
The Shame Spiral
Because their bodies couldn't always meet these impossible standards—even though their minds and skills remained fully capable—participants reported feeling ashamed. This shame drove them to conceal their pain:
- Choosing stairs over elevators to appear "normal."
- Skipping visible pain relief to avoid drawing attention
- Working through discomfort rather than requesting accommodations
Paradoxically, hiding pain made it worse. All 66 participants described how suppressing their needs intensified their symptoms. For many, this cycle continued until pain became unmanageable—disrupting not just work, but daily life.
Some eventually left their jobs for roles better suited to their needs. A few exited the workforce altogether. This trajectory is common: chronic pain is the leading cause of long-term disability claims among workers.
Breaking the Cycle: What Helped
A subset of participants found ways to escape this damaging loop. Two factors made the difference:
**1. Medical Validation**
Finding healthcare providers who acknowledged their pain as real—and provided clear diagnoses—helped participants release the burden of pretending to be "fine." Understanding their physical limits wasn't failure; it was clarity.
**2. Supportive Work Environments**
Employers who focused on outcomes rather than appearances created space for adaptation. Participants in these environments felt empowered to:
- Ask for help or task adjustments
- Stretch or reposition during meetings
- Use assistive tools like dictation software
- Turn off cameras during virtual calls to rest comfortably
They also innovated: an ultrasound technician learned to alternate arms while scanning; a deli worker began using a cart for heavy items. These small changes improved both well-being and efficiency.
Why This Matters for Everyone
While our study centered on chronic pain, its lessons extend far beyond. Social pressure to hide discomfort—whether from injury, fatigue, age, or disability—affects us all. Ignoring bodily signals to "tough it out" doesn't demonstrate resilience; it increases vulnerability to further harm.
Creating workplaces that honor human limits isn't about lowering standards. It's about recognizing that sustainable performance requires flexibility, empathy, and a redefinition of what an "ideal worker" truly looks like.
When we stop demanding that bodies conform to outdated ideals, we make space for people to bring their full, authentic selves to work—and that benefits everyone.