A number of years ago, I had a muscle spasm in my back. It was the result of picking up something to heavy at the job I had at the time. Ever since then, that muscle in my back acts up. It didn't hurt, but it would feel tight and numb.
As you are probably already guessing, that's changed. The muscle has gotten worse, and I was able to do my job, but I'd have to pause a lot to let the numb feeling go away or have to wait for a coworker to arrive for their shift and ask them to do stuff for me. That wasn't fair to them, and it wasn't fair to my boss to have a kitchen manager who couldn't be there to manage the kitchen.
My IC and chronic fatigue weren't helping. I was too tired from the day job to take care of myself. IC means strict diet and from scratch meals, and I just didn't have the energy for that, and hubby and I would just go out to eat.
What finally got me was I picked up an empty pan and had a spasm of pain in my back. It wasn't severe, but enough for me to decide it was time to stop before I did permeant damage that was unfixable.
That was three weeks ago, and already I can see an improvement in my health. My back still hates me, and the chronic illnesses aren't going anywhere. I don't get the luxury of getting better, but I'm getting to take care of myself the way I need to be. I also get to claim the title of full-time writer again. Now, to make enough money to match. ;)