Staying busy can't even come close. I can move around all day, but only walk less than a 100ft at a time. I exercise as much as possible and to a normal person they would have no idea how much I suffer. Every morning is Hell, and so is every night. But in between can be managed. I move best in my house, where I somehow find every support possible, such as counters, walls, rails, and everything in between. Pain can be just fine but in a few wrong moments you're screwed. Sorry that you all can relate! Have a good day! 😃 😊

For me personally, doing any 1 thing too much does it for me, if I sit too long,or stand in 1 place to long,or overuse my neck and shoulders that triggers alot of pain. I have to find that fine line between all of it and do a little of each then I'm relatively ok!

Mornings are a trigger! The less movement I have the more pain I’m in. I’m exhausted though, but I’ve quit taking naps because it just makes the pain worse after I’ve slept for a while.

For me anything out of normal activity gets to me the next day. Simple things like gardening and feeling good about the job I did and bam 💥 the next day I can barely move without pain. This can last a day or two. If I have family members over for dinner no matter what short cuts I make I will suffer for a few days. I am determined not to give up but sometimes it is too bad to do anything. The fatigue is constant but the daily pain and stiffness is worse. Even my PT doesn’t understand that not only are we working on my new knee but the scar tissue and the AS work against me. I do continue to work but seriously might not make the 2 years I would like to do. I am trying to make it to February 2025, I then will have my medical insurance for life. I know Medicaid is good but you still have to get a secondary insurance. I also get great joy from the work I do, I am a social worker and work for the state government. I oversee programs in every county some have 2 , 35 programs that help individuals who have been out of the workforce for some years and need to get back to work. Some have never worked, some haven’t worked for a few years but they need to now support themselves usually after a divorce, domestic violence or widowed.
I want to thank all of you for accepting me as a friend, it is great to have a team to support and understand what we are all going through, not many without these diagnoses understand.

Short bursts of activity are the secret!! And medicating!! I have to admit, medicating to keep the pain levels at levels that don't keep me down helps.
But, taking those pain meds creates issues! I feel I walk a razors edge with them, especially when I'm taking them as prescribed. I can deal with a lot of pain! Heck, I walked around with a bone shard floating in my neck for almost 34 years! And, been dealing with a broken L5-S1. I've been on opioids for a very long time, more on than off. I choose to use them now, the script says "as needed" and if I am at my desk, or in my studio, I try and avoid needing them, but, do take them when the ache of my spine reaches distracting levels.