Diagnosis- herniated disc, just like my Dad

Well, I'm finally starting to feel better, the excruciating pain is gone. It still hurts, but at least it's now manageable. My Dad had a herniated disc, but I admit to a world of difference in our responses. My father was a stoic, me? not so much. I'm sure J was on the verge of moving out, trying to escape my moaning, groaning, pacing, crying, mopey self. My Dad injured his back while carrying an empty water heater out of a basement. My injury was more like a progressive supper of back pain. It started with my Mom's too heavy window air conditioners, then I executed  a twisting grab at the refrigerator that was sliding back down the basement stairs threatening to squish J like a bug between it and the concrete wall at the bottom of the steps. . Then it was just sore with overuse until one morning I woke and couldn't put my right foot on the floor without agony. My Mom's immediate reaction when she heard of my injury was to say, "I was afraid of that. I knew you were going to hurt your back on that bike." I didn't bother to correct her. I've been riding my bike since 1995. I'll admit that long trips are tiring, but I've never had lower back pain from the bike. My Dad was so strong that he could easily manage a window air conditioner. The water heater that he was trying to get out of the basement came from a house that was on a lot that our church bought for parking. He was contracted to demolish the house and cart it away. It took a long time for my Dad to tear and haul the house away. He built his two car garage on our property from the lumber he salvaged. That was my Dad all over.