I used to tweak my back like that, and be out of commission for anywhere up to 3 months. Once, it was over a year. A year in which even to smile, was painful. Any movement at all was painful.

My doc taught me an exercise to do every morning, before I get out of bed.

Ever since then, I still occasionally tweak my back like that, but it never lasts more than a few days...


The exercise...
You can do this in bed, or on the floor, whichever is more comfortable for you.

Lat flat on your back.
Pull your feet up as close to your body as you can.
Put the flats of your feet together, and let your knees fall toward the floor.
Stay in that position while your legs and joints relax.
Your knees will slowly get closer to the floor.
Keep those feet together and close to you!
When your knees will no longer go any closer to the floor, stay that way for a couple minutes.
Then very slowly... And keeping your feet together as long as possible...
Move your feet away from you.

I generally do it in increments. Move them away from me a few inches and wait a few minutes again. Repeat until your feet are most of the way away from you, and finish that last bit all at once.

Lay there with your legs together, your feet together, and your toes pointed toward you, for about 5 minutes.

Sometimes when you do this, you will hear/feel a snap. That is usually one of your hip joints popping back into place.

Came down pretty heavy here, overnight.

Got maybe 6 inches.

Then got really heavy again for a while for about 7 to 10. Then stopped for a while.

Now we are getting a LOT of snow. Almost white out. Mixed with rain!!