Problem: Article: Realize that chronic pain is variable and a pep talk can be aggravating and demoralizing for the chronic pain sufferer. If you want them to do something, then ask if they can and respect their answer.  Try not to say: "But you did it before!" or "Oh, come on, I know you can do this!" Staying as active as possible and partaking in activities like walking, biking, and tai chi may help ease muscle and joint pain.  Sometimes being sedentary causes pain to get worse. However, don’t lecture on the value of exercise and fresh air. For a chronic pain sufferer, these things may not help the pain and can often exacerbate it. Telling them that they need to exercise or do something to "get their mind off of it" may frustrate them. If they were capable of doing these things any or all of the time, they would. Another statement that hurts is, "You just need to push yourself more, try harder". Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short or long period of time can cause more damage and physical pain for the chronic pain sufferer—not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. An individual with chronic pain does not need to be told "You are too sensitive", "You have to deal with it better" or "You have to do it for X, Y or Z". Of course they are sensitive! You have no idea what they cope with or the amount of pain or worry they deal with. Chronic pain sufferers are constantly working with doctors, striving to improve and do the right things for their illness.  You may not give the correct advice, especially if you're not medically trained and haven't got a clue what that person is dealing with.  Be sensitive when suggesting medicines or alternative treatments.  Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and alternative therapies can have side effects and unintended consequences. Some sufferers may not appreciate suggestions—but it's not because they don't want to get well. They may have heard of it or tried it already. They may not be ready to cope with a new treatment that can create an additional burden on their already over-burdened lives. Treatments that haven't worked carry the emotional pain of failure, which in and of itself can make the person feel worse. If there is something that cured or helped people with a particular form of chronic pain like theirs, then let the sufferer know when they seem receptive and are ready to hear it. Be sensitive to how you bring it up. Don't lecture about prescription medicine if they've been prescribed by a doctor. Pain control is hard to manage and some days these sufferers may require more pain medicine than others. Tolerance is NOT addiction. Avoid being judgmental about drug use pursued by chronic pain sufferers. Don’t assume you know best by making statements such as "Ah well, that's life, you'll just have to deal with it", or "You'll get over it eventually”, “Until then, you'll just have to do your best", or worst of all, "Well, you look well enough", etc. These lines are a form of distancing yourself from the ill person. Often, it just makes the sufferer feel worse and out of hope.  People who live with chronic pain know how they feel and are well aware of their situation, so avoid projecting onto the sufferer how you think they should be feeling. Throw lifelines rather than throwaway lines by saying something like: "So how can I help you", or "is there anything that I can do to help you deal with your pain?" Don't say “I've had that before and I'm fine now”.  It shows your lack of understanding and makes the person living with chronic pain feel like a failure that they can't handle what they are experiencing and others would do a much better job in the same situation. It's awful living with chronic pain, but it's even worse when people give up on them, misunderstand them or spread negativity. Everyday life can be hard and very lonely for chronic pain sufferers. Constant support, offering hope and showing your love are all crucial things to communicate to them. Comfort those with chronic pain, and let them know that you are there for them. A loyal friend is a life saver! Inquire how satisfied the sufferer is with their treatment. It’s important to ask helpful questions about whether the chronic sufferer thinks their treatment is satisfactory or if they think their pain is bearable.People rarely ask these open-ended "helpful questions" that might help the chronic sufferer open up and really talk. Don't stop asking someone with chronic pain "How are you?" just because the answer might be uncomfortable for you. It may be the only opportunity to show you care about their well-being.  And if you don't like the answer, remember that it is their answer—not your opinion. When the ill person finally opens up to someone, they should not be told that they "talk about it too much" or it's "all they talk about". Recognize that pain is probably a huge part of their lives. They may not want to talk about things like vacations, shopping, sports or gossip. Sometimes sharing silence together is good, and the sufferer is just happy to have you there with them. You don't have to fill every minute of conversation with words. Your presence says a whole lot! Don't use platitudes or bold allegations not based on fact to hide your ignorance. There is much even the medical community does not know about chronic pain. There is no harm in saying "I don't know" and then offering to find things out.
Summary: Leave your pep talk for your kids and gym buddies. Don’t play doctor. Never use throwaway lines. Don't compare health problems. Be positive. Ask about their treatment. Ask how they are. Know that silence is ok too. Admit when you don't have answers.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Since most sheep casings are packaged in brine, fill a bowl with warm water and put your casing into it. Leave the casing to soak and change the water at least 2 to 3 times as it soaks for an hour.  Changing the water frequently will help flush the salt out from the casing. The sheep casing should be soft and easy to handle once it's finished soaking. Remove the sheep casing from the bowl of water and run it under cool water to remove traces of salt. Then put the stuffing attachment on the end of your meat grinder. If you can, chill the stuffing attachment while the casing soaks. The spiced meat mixture should also be chilling while you're preparing the casing. Grease the stuffing attachment with a little shortening and tie a knot at one end of the casing. Slide the open end of the casing onto the attachment until the tied end is at the tip of the stuffing attachment. Then place a rimmed baking sheet under it and pour enough water to come 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) up the side of the pan.  The water in the sheet will help the meat-filled casing slide away from the stuffing attachment while you're working. Use any size baking sheet. Keep in mind that the longer the sheet, the more room the meat-filled casing has to move. Remove the chilled meat from the refrigerator and transfer it to the sausage stuffer. Push down firmly to remove as much air as you can. Then turn your mixer on so it begins to push the meat down through the nozzle into the casing. Try to work quickly so the meat stays cold and the hot dogs hold their shape. Once you've pushed all of the spiced meat into the casing, turn off the machine and firmly pull the casing from the attachment. Tie the end tightly at the end of the filled casing and use a sausage pricker to poke any air pockets you see. It's important to remove pockets of air since these will cause the hot dogs to spoil quickly. Determine how long you want the hot dogs to be and then pinch the casing to create a gap. Twist at that spot 2 to 3 times to separate one hot dog from the next. Continue to twist off at even lengths. You should be able to get about 15 hot dogs that are about 6 inches (15 cm) long. Once you've twisted the filled casing into individual links, take a sharp knife or kitchen-only scissors and cut in between them to separate the hot dogs. Put them in a container and refrigerate them until you're ready to parboil them.
Summary:
Soak 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3.0 m) of sheep casing for 1 hour. Rinse the casing and put the stuffing attachment on your meat grinder. Attach the casing to the stuffer and place a pan of water directly below it. Fill the stuffer with the meat and turn the machine on. Fill the casing and prick it to remove air pockets. Twist the filled casing into individual hot dogs. Cut and chill the hot dogs until you're ready to parboil them.