The themes were: the impact of pain; doing less because of pain; learning to live with pain; positive ways of coping with pain; negative feelings surrounding pain; family issues related to pain; health care issues related to pain. The greatest agreement among participants was for statements regarding learning to live with pain and positive ways of coping with pain; least agreement occurred with statements regarding negative emotions surrounding pain. Insight gained into the individual's perspective of living with chronic pain provides direction for assessment, treatment, and evaluation of chronic pain.