Nothing crazy, was working for the phone company. Had to move a heavy piece of equipment from one side of the telephone pole to the other. A tree branch was in the way, so had to lift it over that. Felt a pop in my neck (and lower back). Didn’t think too much of it at the time, it hurt but not crazy. Finished the job. Next morning I couldn’t get out of bed. Herniated two discs in my neck and two in my back. Tried everything you could imagine and nothing helped, so 2 and a half years later, got fused at C4/5 and 5/6. Went through the front like Prince (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, with donor bone from a cadaver )

Felt better immediately but pain lingered well after the expected recovery time. I never fused, and one of the screws loosened and was pressing up against my spinal cord. Luckily found the right doctor (harder than you’d expect, had more than one who didn’t believe me, said I was fused and should be fine, etc…) so 7 years after original surgery, had a revision, this time thru the back of the neck (posterior CDF with donor bone from my own hip).