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I'm 45 and have 2 badly ruptured disks. Before I go further, I think its important to point out that everyone is different, and 2 people with exactly the same scans can have radically different symptoms.

In the past, I have had symptoms so bad that I could barely stand from a sitting position, and terrible pain. Today, its managed pretty well. I keep myself trim, keep my core strength up, do a few physical therapy exercises, and take 400mg of ibuprofen every day. Keeping hydrated also seems to help.

Have you tried yoga? Might seem hippy-dippy, but I would try that before surgery.