I am getting better. I am prohibited, both by my doctor and now by the physiotherapist, from sitting for "longer than it takes to eat or go to the bathroom" for the near future. Instead, I am to either lie down (back, front, side, whatever) or stand. Some walking is also encouraged.

I am even mostly off the painkillers and muscle relaxants now. I take painkillers first thing in the morning, because I wake up stiff, and muscle relaxants last thing before bed, because otherwise the pull of my lower back would wake me up. All the inbetween times, though, I am now happily drug free.

I appreciate the good wishes -- thank you!