Just like having blonde hair

The other day a group of my friends were at the one guy's camp helping him get fire wood for a party he's having this coming weekend. I told them I couldn't help load the wood onto his truck because I was having a flare and my wrists were in a lot of pain. One of my friends, actually I consider her one of my best friends, made the comment that "having arthritis was like having blonde hair because neither of them really affect your capability". I was so angry and hurt by this comment I just stood there silent. I can't believe that this is what people really think of this horrible disease. Just because I don't look sick, doesn't mean that I'm not in pain. 

People wonder why I never talk about my arthritis and this is exactly the reason that I don't. They don't understand because I don't appear to be physically ill so my pain must not be real. Just because you can't see something doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.