TWO sisters who are battling "invisible illnesses" have told of their dream to help young women through the darkest days of chronic pain.

Natalie, 24, and Georgina Jovanovic, 22, from Great Horton have dealt with extreme pain since their teen years but have noticed their daily lives become more affected as they grow older.

In what should be the most exciting years of their life, the pair are unable to plan social events due to the unpredictability of their health as well as being forced to put their career goals constantly on pause.

And so, in a bid to reach out to other young women who understand, the Jovanovic sisters have launched their own support group - a safe place to chat and talk about the hidden, taboo side effects of chronic pain.

Writing on social media, Natalie warned that many young women experiencing these issues feel "unsupported, underrepresented and isolated".

She was 17 at the time of her diagnosis, illness changed her life in just a day.

At the time, Natalie was an avid runner, dancer and footballer.

"I managed to hurt my back, I'm not really sure how," she recalls.

"Pulling up my pyjamas I got a really bad pain in my spine. I went to my GP, they said it's probably just a sporting injury. It never went away. I had to keep going back to my GP and I was referred for an MRI."

The pain was caused by a number of disc bulges, fluid on her neck and fibromyalgia.

Natalie said: "The pain completely changed my life. I couldn't walk, stand, jump. Some days I'm absolutely fine and can do daily stuff without being in pain but sometimes I just need to lay in bed and try get through the pain.

"I didn't know anybody who suffered with chronic pain.

"As a kid I was quite sporty. When this happened to me I had to give all that up. With it being a structural condition I couldn't move my spine in the normal way. I get really stiff so I have to be really careful what I do.

"It's quite draining, especially as a young person. It can effect young people."

Georgina began suffering with endometriosis around four years ago - a condition which can cause a sharp, stabbing pain, lead to severe period pain, infertility and affect bladder control.

After seven to eight months of doctors visits and several hospital tests, Georgina is looking into ways she can minimise the pain as much as possible - but physical pain is not the only problem.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, she said: "When you have a good day and you're not in pain you think, 'Maybe this is over now' but again it's your pain which dictates that. Especially as a young woman, it's affected me being able to drink. I'm being told I'm not allowed to do anything. It's a bit like, well what can I do then? A lot of it is just lying in bed.

"My sister started with her back problems a lot of years before I started with any kind of pain. Because she's had that experience she's been able to understand mine a bit more. It's just about that connection."

The Chronic Pain Support Group (CPSG) is currently operating online. To access CPSG, search @cpsgbrad on Instagram or email CPSG.20@gmail.com