I used to equate my "normal" back pain with "real" back pain from disc and vertebrae injuries. I worked with someone with "real" back pain and I would give him advice based on my experiences with "normal" back pain. I hope all this makes sense. My "normal" back pain could be controlled with ab work, chriropractor, stretching and so forth and I encouraged my colleague. He said to me that I had no idea what his pain was like and that he would do more but the pain prevented it.
WELL here I am now with compression fractures of lumbar 1, 3 and 5. Plus they think part of my excruciating pain ("real" back pain) is from the joints that connect 4 and 5. I am set for a surgical procedure (outpatient) where a steroid is injected into the joint in hopes it alleviates the pain. There are no promises but the doctor is highly recommended. Plus he rides and was perfectly happy when I parked my Calfee in his waiting room.
In short...the back pain many of us have hurts like hell and we think that is as bad as it gets. TRUST ME there is a WHOLE other level of pain when it is a serious back injury. I wish I didn't know but I do now.
Ironically I ended up being deposed by the guy with the back pain (who I hadn't seen or talked to in several years) the day before seeing the back pain doctor and his lawyer was the doctor's brother! All through the day I kept telling the guy I had worked with that GOD was getting his revenge on me since I used to joke with Rich about his back, the pain and the way he walked and complained. I now am a clone of his walk.