[lawdude]

"And perhaps if he wasn't playing golf three or four times a week -- a game that places a huge amount of stress on the back -- he wouldn't have been in so much pain. And yes, I am a genius."

As a genius, you are pompous. How about your credentials as an orthopedist?

I suffer extreme back pain but since I can now avoid the situations which bring on the pain, I am not so disabled. In my case I have two lower disks completely gone and standing for more than 5 minutes or so causes great discomfort. If I sit down for a few minutes, the pain subsides. The same with walking but the pain is different and does not always occur.

Now, Mr. Smartass, your diagnosis?

[TigersEye]

I also have had chronic back pain for 18 years. I have never taken drugs for it but I have lost a lot of work time for that choice. Years. I do still engage in heavy physical activities and have all along. Some times I end up crippled with pain for days and sometimes not. Life goes on. Pain doesn't mean lying prone for the rest of your life. Besides when it began it hurt just as much lying down as any other activity.