Ignore. People vary in their ability to be tactful or even have empathy for others.

People with low empathy thresholds, will NEVER be understanding enough for people in pain.

If you search the net for chronic pain and insensitive people, you'll find reams and reams of posts. Pain is invisible to others for the most part. Anyone with an invisible condition, which impairs them... like MS, chronic pain, MG, PN, etc, have this problem with others not understanding (or not even caring).

When I started walking in public with a walking stick, I found much more sympathy and help than before, when I just limped
around. So I now walk with my hiking pole when necessary, and it is better for me even than a cane. (canes tend to promote staring and curiosity). Hubby thinks I look rather "continental" with the hiking pole! LOL

I won't even go to the MIL thing. You can be PERFECT and some MILs will pick at you anyway. It is a no win situation even
under the best of circumstances!