Sandra,

Instead of trying to "write" and dealing with writers block, taking the time, etc., why not put the pain into a chart. This is what I have done because it's fast. (I am also pretty adept at Microsoft Excel, which makes it real easy.)

1) Define areas of pain that apply to you, like headache, swollen leg (left), swollen leg (right), sensitivity (name area), joint ache (name area) and so on.

2) On the other "axis" of the chart, put down times of day - morning, noon evening, bedtime, middle of night - or whatever works for you.

3) For each area/time combination you can "rate" the pain. Use 1 - 10 if you like or A - B- C- D - F. Whatever works for you.

This is easy to fill out each day or throughout the day. Pretty soon a pattern may emerge or even demonstrate the lack of a pattern. After a while, you could even translate all of these "grades" into a prose for your diary, This chart will remember for you how your ankles were last Tuesday.

I hope this is clear. I have used this throughout the years and always find it easy, even when I forget for a day or two.

Mike