Hi Craig, Not being able to do the things we did before and watching everything deteriorate all the while being in pain no one understood, cared or would help isn't failure. It once felt like failure to me too though. One goal of mine is to re-visit those "failures". My first one was a nay-sayer doctor. Dr. Stall in fact. I hope someday you can go back in time and ask Dr. Stall, "Well, what do you think now?" Last week I bicycled 8 miles along the coast. Three weeks ago I re-visited dance lessons. I still stink, but the same instructor is still very cute.
Hopefully your journey will take you along the right road.