How is the pain today daddy?

 It is such a simple question in normal circumstances, but it is such a heavily loaded question and brings so much stress for people with chronic pain. In cases where you cannot see the underlying issue and the person looks totally fine from outside, it becomes extremely tricky to answer this question honestly. Let me explain this with an analogy. Let's say you have been given multiple responsibilities at work. Now your manager keeps a daily sync up to ensure you get all the help you need. In this meeting, he/she asks you a simple question: "How are things going?". When there is usual progress and occasional blockers, this meeting should be very straight forward. But in this case, let's assume you are unable to make any progress day after day. With each passing day, that simple question "How are things going?" becomes a bigger and bigger burden. When I am asked how am I doing by acquaintances, its not very hard to respond. I just lie and say I am doing fine....

 I have had really frustrating 6-7 weeks. I am probably in little less pain than last week but I am exhausted.  Exhausted fighting. Exhausted figuring out. Exhausted trying to find positives. Exhausted balancing work and pain. Thats all I have been doing. Exhausted sacrificing alcohol. Exhausted eating only healthy stuff Exhausted trying to force myself to do the exercise routines Exhausted to even enjoy simple things Exhausted trying to get PT appointment Exhausted trying to explain myself at work Exhausted avoiding friends and family. Exhausted feeling tired all the time. Exhausted feeling pain every minute of every day. Exhausted thinking life will always be like this