People who suffer with pain do not attend to other pursuits. Pain is all-consuming. Only three people in my acquaintance have not had back problems. I never dreamed that the back was such an ogre. Etty grows impatient with the frailty of her body, and then she gives in to it.
Life goes on and is full and rich - it's just different.
For me, her words were transforming. I had not thought about having residual limitations. Now I know I will - no more heavy lifting, swinging heavy luggage into overhead bins on airplanes, and the like. If she can do it, I can do it. But it did not bring me an unalleviated sorrow.