"[I]t is known as an illness for old people for some reason. So in my case when I tell someone I have arthritis they will look at me like-yeah right. We don't feel trust. It seems like you are lying all the time and you are coming up with excuses."

(Lacaille et al., 2007)

"Interviewer: Has your family noticed?
Mrs M: I don't think they have seen my hands...
Mr M: ...I haven't noticed it that bad until you pointed out.
Mrs M: You've not seen them really. I don't go around crying on your shoulder a lot, do I?"

(Bury 1988:100)

"[F]or me to lean across the table and pick that up which is something [people] would do without thinking about it... causes me pain and takes a tremendous effort to do it and I don't want to do it"

(Locker 1984:19)

"You look well, and that is part of the problem at work and everywhere. People look at me and-I am sure they are thinking: What is she complaining about? She looks fine, she's not sick."

(Lacaille et al., 2007)

(Lacaille et al., 2007)

For the person whose pain it is, it is "effortlessly" grasped; while for the person outside the sufferer's body, what is "effortless" is not grasping it.

(Scarry 1985: 4)

"Say a paraplegic, although their legs are useless they're not in pain. You see, what you do then is slide yourself in a car and chuck your legs in after and that's it, but if that is so painful that you can't even contemplate the idea..."

(Locker 1984:18)