Does this sound familiar to you? ** I often need to stop to rest my back. ** I can't do things I used to be because of my back. ** I have to cancel fun plans because I'm in pain. ** My pain prevents me from living my best life. It is interfering with the things I love and the activities I used to take for granted. It wears me out. If you think any of these things, this book is for you. Your life has been changed by back pain. We understand. We've been there. Written by back patients for back patients. This small, easy-to-read book is filled with ideas from two lifetimes of living with imperfect backs. We offer practical tips for living with pain and getting relief from pain. We have advice for how to find great doctors and when to walk away. This book is the summation of experiences of the authors whose spines are fused, and how we have learned to live with backs that still require attention. Whether you have surgery or not, our book can help you navigate the world of back pain. We'll tell you our stories and show you some tips that make our lives less painful. Whether your back aches sometimes, or flares up when you work too hard, or keeps you from living your best life, this book is for you. Living with back pain forces us to "listen" to our bodies. Sometimes, our backs are so upset that they clamp down with pain, forcing us to stop whatever we're doing. This is pain that we can't just push through. This is pain that interrupts our lives. Now, our bodies have our attention. It's hard to know what to do, especially when the pain interferes with regular life and clear thinking. You may be considering surgery. You may be wondering what else is possible. This book will take you through what we've learned. Sometimes surgery is the right answer, but the majority of people with back pain don't need surgery. You can find out your own solutions. It's time for you to take charge of your own health. After all, no one knows your body like you do. No one can say if the pain is getting better or worse, except you. Therefore, you'll make decisions that are best for your own body. We're back patients like you, and we're offering you practical ways to live with your imperfect back. You and your doctor will decide whether surgery is right for you. This book encourages you to make the best decisions for yourself and provides help with whatever you decide. We share experiences from our real lives, living with spinal fusion and our own imperfect backs. I was pleasantly surprised that this work is not a technical treatise on spine surgery but an invaluable how-to guide for patients with chronic and acute back pain, both surgical and nonsurgical. - Dr. Mark Roy, Retired Brain & Spine Surgeon Lori and Jane offer practical information, but mostly they give reassurance: these things you're feeling are common; we've been through them, too. Your pain is likely to get better or certainly become more tolerable. You are not alone. We will help you cope and show you how. What a gift of themselves these ladies have given to you! - Dr. Joseph Stern, Spine Surgeon, JosephSternMD.com. A book that reads like a conversation with a friend. It's a wealth of knowledge for anyone who struggles with back pain. - Kelsey Crews, LMBT I have known Lori for a good part of her back pain and surgeries. Having a handbook from a patient's perspective such as Lori's will benefit so many people. I endorse this handbook based on its detailed descriptions of covering all the bases that an individual will face and deal with chronic back and surgical conditions. - Dr. John O'Halloran, Owner, OHalloranRehabilitation.com Jane is a long-term patient, and we think that what she and Lori are doing with this book is GREAT! We see patients on both ends of their surgical journey, staving off surgery for years or helping patients' post-surgery return to wellness. This book shows what the road ahead can look like for anyone with back problems. There are many people out there who are ready to help you. - Dr. Tim Clark & Dr. Dean Meylor, MeylorChiropractic.org This book is very well organized and is an easy-to-understand compilation of "DIY" advice for getting your back fixed and keeping it fixed. Back problems are challenging in the best of circumstances, and this book offers an exceptional resource for anyone who is contemplating both surgical and non-surgical solutions. I truly wish this book had been available 20 years ago before I faced serious back problems! I have personally "been there, done that" and recommend this book to all who face similar issues. - Gary Brown, Back Pain Patient, NC I have inoperable back problems. Lori and Jane's advice has been a game-changer in helping me control my pain so that my life is livable again. I'm forever grateful to them! - Lois Slove Losyk, Back Pain Patient, NC Your book is terrific! It comfortably addresses almost all the questions and fears that folks enduring back pain exp