ouch sorry to hear you joined the club.No wonder sometimes we are all cranky I got bad disks at c2-3-4-5-6 then an older injury at L4-5-S1 the Drs have done "everything" means "heres lots of drugs that you wouldnt normally take,"Doc i dont do drugs.OK heres some other stuff.1-2YRs later the pain keeps you up at night posting on the deer hunting forums at 400 am Next thing they want to stick BIG NEEDLES in your spine and neck they dont work .Then next thing you know your taking those pills no strong man wants to take after all None of us are "addicts" becarful ,because thats what they want to do.I'm waiting to go under the "knife" i talk to people they say "dont do it ,one wrong slice thats it"You way the options pain ,PAIN ,everyday pain,mean to the wife ,nasty ,etc.hey Doc let me try those pills .Sorry to go on a rant critter your story hit a "NERVE" my advice is try all the back stretching exercises. avoid the pills as long as possible.Be nice to the family ,enjoy the outdoors as much as you can.