Ever since the wreck in '04 and the subsequent 14 month recovery period, I've had some days that are good and some days that are less than good.  I call the latter pain days.

Every day is an exercise in constant pain for me, but some days it's not so bad. Other days, it really sucks. Today was such a "suck" day, or a pain day.

Every movement, walking, moving the arms, head, whatever, is painful. My whole body hurts, especially the joints. Walking is sheer will as the pain is amazing. I take Aleve to try and take the edge off, but it really doesn't hellp all that much.

For the most part I just accept it and try to go about my business as best I can. It's...trying...at times. It sometimes tests my patience. It tests my will. It challenges my ability to move past this sort of thing and just get on with life.

Pain can be a motivator at times. It can also sap your energy and leave you drained and unable to do the simplest of tasks.  It's really an amazingly powerful ally and enemy at the same time.

I've been dealing with it all day today. Just getting up and walking to the bathroom is an incredible challenge on days like this, these pain days. But I do it anyway. I have to. I refuse to allow it to control or defeat me.

But it sucks.

One can't just surrender to pain. You have to accept it, move past it, and do whatever it is that you need to do. You can't really ignore it although you try. It's always there and won't go away. It's as much a part of life as is pleasure or hunger. The best you can do is to just work around it as best you can.

Tomorrow is another day and, with any luck, will be a day with less pain. That's the best I can really hope for.