Alice, so sorry you are having such trouble. I don't notice it most of the time...only when I do something unusual, etc., so it really doesn't bother me much. When it does flare up IF I am diligent about Resting it, Icing it, and NOT using it, it doesn't take long, that I can recall, to get it settled down. I know it can be difficult whilst earning a living, but I have found if I don't do those things, it gets a lot worse before it gets better and takes longer to do so. Did it happen on the job or because of it? Can you get workman's comp.?