Last year, I went under the knife for a microdiscectomy, a type of minimally invasive spine surgery where a portion of a herniated disc is removed using microsurgical tools.In this episode, I share my story of what happened, how I dealt with low back pain in the context of health and fitness, the surgery and recovery process, and lessons I learned along the way. I hope my story sheds light on some productive ways to think about pain and injury and even inspires you to consider multiple options when faced with a situation like this.Medical DisclaimerOne last thing. I am NOT a medical practitioner and am NOT dispensing medical advice in this podcast. Everything I say is my personal opinion and experience. Do NOT use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition. Consult your own physician for any medical issues! Timestamps:00:00 - Intro06:18 - Different types of pain10:18 - Book recommendation for lifters dealing with pain12:10 - Things to try before considering surgery13:53 - My surgery process19:27 - Movement is the key to recovery20:51 - A surprise surgery two months later21:48 - One year after back surgeryRELATED LINKSBook about dealing with pain through screening and corrective movements:Rebuilding Milo: A Lifter's Guide to Fixing Common Injuries and Building a Strong Foundation for Enhancing Performance (by Dr. Aaron Horschig)Starting Strength article about "pin firing" for elbow tendinopathy:Elbow Tendonitis: How It Occurs and What to Do About It? Win a prize by taking our Listener Survey! ? Support the show? Apply for 1-on-1 coaching!?‍? Schedule a FREE results breakthrough call with Philip? Join our Facebook community for accountability, live training/Q&As, & free challenges✉️ Join the FREE email list with insider strategies, bonus content, and exclusive articles!? Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS. The only food logging app that adjusts to your metabolism!? Enjoyed this episode? Share it on social and follow/tag @witsandweights? Love the podcast? Leave a 5-star review? Send a Q&A voicemail