Here are some articles that deal with being a good friend to someone who is chronically ill and in pain, effective listening skills, and how the person with pain can handle some issues with friends.

http://www.wikihow.com/Understand-Someone-With-Chronic-Pain

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Listener

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20401193,00.html

http://painresource.com/sharing-caring/is-chronic-pain-straining-your-friendships-2/

http://www.chronicpainresource.org/14.html Excerpt: Second injury is when people around you are not living in your physical existence. Things people say or do can cause enormous emotional pain. After I broke my femur a second time, I really was having trouble and in pain. The plate in my leg broke which broke my femur again and I had to endure another femur surgery within a nine month period; and I had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. There was one day I was having a difficult time and someone said “stop complaining at least you’re not Christopher Reeve.” I know Christopher Reeve and his family must have had a terrible time, but it was about me and having someone understand my struggle during that moment.

http://chroniccurve.tumblr.com/post/30781367059/chronic-illness-dwindling-friendships-finding-a

http://healthtalkonline.org/peoples-experiences/chronic-health-issues/chronic-pain/impact-friends-and-reaction-others

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/health/13brod.html?_r=0