http://www.ivillage.com/common-conditions-cause-chronic-pain/4-b-464964 I went to my doctor the other day for a follow-up for my post knee surgery. For a few weeks my knee had been aching and causing me ongoing pain. It wasn't excruciating, but more just annoying and I found myself taking ibuprofen and icing it on a daily basis. When I told the doctor about my pain and asked what I could do to stop it, his response wasn't what I was hoping for. After reviewing my x-rays and notes from the surgery he said that I have a lot of arthritis in the area I had pain and that nothing more (other than knee replacement) could be done. He said every person's level of pain tolerance is different. He said he's seen much worse cases than mine, where the person had experienced very little to no pain. For some reason, what he said kind of hit me wrong, as I almost felt like he was saying, " Don't be a wimp ! "  Because of my doctor's statement, I sta rted to