"it will burn itself out"

I have been told this by a few docs. My family doc says I won't have to put up with it for more than a couple years as it will burn itself out. She says she has several patients that had it, and it's always burned itself out. I told her I have had it since 2001... It has settled down a bit, but it has also spread from one foot to both feet, a calf, to shoulder, arm, neck, half my face, my upper back.

Hmmm.... wonder when that burn out is going to happen?