I'm 60 and when my condition began over 3 years ago I laid on the couch and thought I couldn't walk. The thought of this for life was depressing. My issues change and they get worse and then calm down. I do a lot of alternative stuff, eat well and follow advise from here. However I had to take breaks from this site and continue living. What keeps me going is that I stay involved with my passions. You can't focus on these conditions and pain or you will go under. If you have to whine, do it here. Limit it with family and friends. I feel crappy every morning but once I get up and move around it gets better. I still bike, kayak, hike(tho more limited) and garden. I also have non physical creative hobbies so if I can't be active I do other things. When I started to panic about all this my doctor gave me adivan for anxiety but I only needed it a few times. Pain sucks, but there are a lot of things to try before we give up. Believe me, none of this is easy. Also remember that as we enter our 50's no ones body is the same as it was in their 20' and 30's. We have to get to know that new body and listen to it. Hope this is encouraging.