I would try lying flat on your back with your legs elevated, several times a day. You might even try heat on your lower spine. Don’t worry if you must do a lot less on these days, it can’t be helped. My best!

sorry to hear that news.. here is a link..you can listen to it 1 or 2 times a day.. try using earphones..and placing the earphones as close the area of pain as possible.

Sorry to hear it. A friend on another atheism forum suffers constantly from this, and although in her case pain meds somewhat help, she's too poor to get proper treatment and often goes without. She's just a youngster cut down in her late 20s by some random illness. I relate to that because it was essentially my 2nd wife's life story too.

It's hard to bear witness to because she's a trained historian with terrific thoughts to share and can't stand the pain of typing half the time. The Internet at least provides an outlet to contribute and participate and then your fingertips won't let you. And yes I've suggested voice dictation but she lives with a senile grandmother in the next room who keeps wondering who she's talking to and gets all agitated about it.

Anyway ... hang in there and feel better sooner rather than later. And let us know if there's anything we can do to encourage you, Ed.

Bravo for your inner strength and optimism! Hang in there. I love your conclusion:

"I will meditate and self-hypnotize, if possible. I will live in the moment and be content. Don't worry, it may beat me up, but it will not beat me."