Rob, there are many different forms of chronic pain, many different severities, and many different causes. The most common instances of chronic pain occur after

Rob, there are many different forms of chronic pain, many different severities, and many different causes. The most common instances of chronic pain occur after some form of trauma (damage), but others occur without any known trauma. From your description, you seem to be in the "post trauma" category (from cycling), and the pain is limited to your legs. Since you're still able to walk, and surprisingly, rollerblade and run, you should to count yourself as very lucky. I mean this sincerely. I won't compare pains in public, but I'll just say, I still appreciate my good fortune and I always count my blessings. Whenever you have moments when you're unable to do the things you want, try to remember the things you can still do. It helps. Even if the only things you can manage to do today is get yourself out of bed into a chair and try to concentrate well enough to read, those are still accomplishments and you are lucky to be able to do them. You managed to use a computer for awhile or maybe even did a bit of typing today? -- FUCK YEAH! Major Win! Celebrate the wins. Appreciate the little things. Until a person is no longer able to do the little things, those little things are taken for granted. The supposed little things seem so pathetic by comparison, but comparison is the real problem. If you compare yourself with others, there are only two possible outcomes and both are harmful; either you'll become vain, or you'll become insecure. The best answer is to just do your best. At times, your best will be truly bad, by comparison, but this is true for absolutely everyone. When you learn to accept your abilities and appreciate your best, you've got the positive momentum to keep striving for better. Everyone endures setbacks, and everyone is enduring some rate of deterioration -- for example, think of some skill you had but are now a bit rusty due to lack of practice (like SYS/360 or VAX assembly code?). Only by continually trying to do your best can you stave off the eventual decline a little longer, but more importantly, doing our best is where we find happiness. The rogues gallery of interaction on the Internet is always there, and every day it seems to become more of a competition and conflict of harmful comparisons. Whether it's the effigy of yourself on some "social" site being compared with others, or your best work being compared with alternatives; the comparisons are always there. The only thing you should ever take with you from a comparison is new ideas to improve your best. Laugh! It helps. Make jokes so others can laugh with you. (Yes, even here on HN) If you, or others, in our situation would like to contact me privately through email, I have a good collection of information that can help people living with chronic pain. My email is in my profile.