Pain can feel scary, especially when it shows up during everyday things like getting out of a chair, walking to the mailbox, or reaching into a cabinet. It’s easy to think, “Something must be wrong,” or “I’d better stop before I make it worse.” Physical therapists see this all the time. And one of the biggest things they want older adults to know is this: pain is real, but it doesn’t always mean damage. That small shift can change how you move, how you recover, and how much c