IABAD,
I had a herniated dics L-5 and rehabed myself back to 100% without surgery...it took me about 5 months to get to 80% then another 3 months to get to full 100%....then for some reason twice a year, God would remind me that I had a messed up back...it would only last about 1 week, but it was I could not move for that week...took my breath away...but now I have no problems.
before I rehabed myself, I could not sit, stand, cough, sneeze, or do anything that required too much time in one postion. I know your pain...I was offered pain meds but turned them down...I did not want to mask my pain, I wanted to know where the pain was so I could work through it...it was by far the the worse 8 to 10 months of my life.
The doc wanted to do surgery rigth away. HE was fresh out of med school and I figured he just bought a house on the lake....his wife told me at the gym I was a prime candiate...I would have a full recovery...I did some research and found that the people that had the same surgery I was going in for had to go back for more surgeries...one guy had 4 surgeries and then finally had his back fuzed together...
Bro you are a strong man...between you and IVAN, you 2 are the strongest mentally I know...IVAN has a good head on his shoulders, but he has that quick fuze....much respect to him..Be strong you wiill notice in a couple months that you will be getting back to 100% so fast.
STAY FLEXIBLE!!! very important.