I did mine to the point of requiring surgery, according to two doctors...one bulging and one herniated. L4-L5 herniated, and L3-L4 bulging. They claimed barely a 50/50 chance of being normal after surgery. This was in 1999, and my wife had just had our 3rd child. The risk of raising him like that was too great. Between a chiropractor and acupuncturist, and 4 months flat on my back, I was able to work through it and return back to work. I'm still plagued with back pain and sciatica, but can walk instead of needing a wheelchair. The good thing from my treatment...I have been able to raise my kids upright.

The last MRI of my back shows that I'll likely have to be fused within the next year or two. The damage is still there, but not hurting as bad as it was. The MRI showed the degenerative back disease has increased over the last two years.

My advice to a younger person with back issues is to get to a doctor ASAP, and practice not only safe lifting, but practice the strengthening techniques the doctors suggest. I see prednisone and a physical therapist in your near future, as well as 800mg tablets of Ibuprofen or something stronger.

Don't screw around with this...your spine is what holds your body up.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles