Can I ask you something?

Have you ever been in a conversation with a friend and as they are talking, your body starts to talk to you? You try to follow what they are saying, but your body is trying to get your attention too. The ache in your back says..."HELLO! I'm here" and then a muscle spasms in response answering the call. As you concentrate even further on what is being said, you notice another ache is looking to be noticed, screaming painfully for your attention. While you try to settle your body, you realize you've missed a part of what your friend was saying. You scramble trying to fit the pieces of the conversation together without making it look like you weren't listening. You were listening to your friend, but you were listening to your body too. 

Having chronic pain can be like carrying on two conversations at once....one in your head with your body, and  the other with the people around you. Have you ever noticed this? How do you handle it?