bad metaphor? i foolishly tried to save my boat during ant "no-name" storm (100mph winds) of 1993 in Tampa. Started with a pain in my neck which became chronic. my pain was managed by meds prescribed by my next-door neighbor, an orthopod surgeon and friend. did OK until i blew my first lumbar disk in '95, then 2nd disk early '96 (diagnosed degen. disk disease) + upper limb neuropathy from cervical degeneration. progressively gotten worse. now drag rt leg around. due next wk for transforaminal ESI at L2-L3 in attempt to regain use of leg and lower pain. neuropathy continues in many areas. Imaging studies show severe foraminal stenosis in lumbar and cervical spine + generalized stenosis with bony artifacts protruding into spinal canal + spurs that jingle, jangle, jingle along facets, and they call it "arthritis". can no longer use my right hand from joint pains, especially middle finger which locks when i sqeeze and has to be re-extended manually. anyway, i read the thread frequently, participate rarely as i know how little i really understand even my own pain and how to deal with it. As with other chronic pain sufferers, i fight depression and the ideas of ending it all. i fight to get up in the morning and to deal socially with even my own family, including my wife of 46 years.  i do feel great sympathy for other painers and wish i had the physical where-with-all to help them and myself.