I feel fine quite often when I'm not experiencing symptoms. Indeed I experienced this primarily as a sense of dread or pessimism when I acquired it 10 years ago. There would usually be low level pain first but sometimes I'd know the pain was coming because the pessimism hit. I was under huge stress which probably exascerbated symptoms. I guess I didn't take the condition as seriously as it warranted since in the beginning I was still able to do most all the things I wanted to.

From the beginning my affected hand would sometimes feel so good and so well that it couldn't be injured or hurt with a sledge hammer. It felt palpably OK! Of course it never lasted long and the pessimism/ pain would hit and it would be the stages of grief all over gain. Now this sensation has generalized and I feel this sense from my amygdala to my toes on a couple occassions.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here really except that you probably will have this the rest of your life if it's not in remission within the first two years. But this is no reason to give up. When you accept it and look for the triggers it becomes easier to avoid the pains. At one time I thought it was impossible for me to avoid suicide but now I've come to just try to appreciate the hours and days I have. I used to live in the future but now I have a much firmer grip on the present. Worrying about my condition always brings on panic attacks so I just try to deal with the moment.

While you may need to give in, you never need to give up. Get out as much as possible and try to enjoy what you have. Avoid your triggers. Perhaps we'll live to see the day that this thing can be cured.

Best wishes.