Rebbe Akiva Eiger ztz"l said about himself that from the age of 15-16 he has learned and taught in great physical pain. If you have ever learned the chiddushim of Rebbe Akiva Eier you can appreciate that there is nothing like it and it was all written while seriously ill. [He was so careful about mikva, he would break through ice and dip!!!]
WOW!
Rav Shmuel Vosner once came to the Chazon Ish who was writhing in pain from an earache. He told the young Rav Vosner that from the age of 18 he has been ill. Sometimes the Chazon Ish wrote that he can't look up a certain sefer not b/c he didn't have it but b/c he didn't have the strength to get up take it down from the shelf!!
The Brisker Rov suffered from serious asthma and other conditions.
The great Gaon Rav Meir Don Plotzki, the Kli Chemdah, suffered from cancer for over 30 years!
Lesson: NO EXCUSES!! These giants and gedolei Torah didn't stop learning or serving Hashem, despite their intense physical and emotional distress.
