I still do most things nowadays, limiting factor is knees, back is stiff, but manageable and the stiffness is mainly because I let myself get out of shape, the more I surf the better off I am, I think arching your back while paddling helps although it hurts a bit if you haven't surfed for a while. My exwife moved furniture and luggage shortly after surgery and reinjured her back, it was not the surgery, but her inability to rehabilitate.

Let me ask you this, have tried a medication called cataflam? I reinjured my back 10 years ago and instead of surgery, a doctor prescribed cataflam, I had been overdosing on motrin to relieve the pain, but it stopped working and my stomach was giving out. I tried the cataflam and I was good within a week, since then I've given (yes I know it's illegal, but fellow back sufferers need a break) other people with back problems a couple cataflam and most have experienced relief with it, I try to not use it too much, use aspirin or motrin for achiness in my back, but If I feel something bad coming on, I take cataflam and it straightens it right out, usually only take one or two and I'm good.

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"A working man voting for George Bush is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders"
cflogger