Compression fracture of L1 in '94 with subsequent stenosis and disc degeneration at all lumbar levels.

Resulting in an L1/L2 discectomy in '04. Because of poor physio before and after surgery, that one took nearly a year to recover from.

Most recently, July '13, I suffered a lifting injury that resulted in an MRI confirmed L4/L5 herniation/prolapse. I really wanted to avoid surgery. Engaged in aggressive physio, gave up cycling almost entirely for 3 months and took up swimming once that was possible. Returned to limited cycling in Nov. Had a refit of the bike and raised my bars a little in Dec. So far, so good. I'm back to riding hard with no increase in back discomfort. I still have core strengthening and flexibility work to do. But, don't we all?