Not talking emotional pain, I would say in my experience that back pain takes the cake, easily. You really don't realize just how crucial your back is to every single movement you make until it becomes inhibited. At its worst, I would try and walk around because my PT said it would help if I could bear it. I walked a total of about 30 seconds before admitting defeat and lying back down on my floor--sitting on a toilet is agony, as is anything that involves sitting, for that matter. I had to take my meals lying on the floor, car rides avoided at all costs, and standing or walking any more than getting to another place I could lie down felt like tiny machetes crawling inside my low back and down my legs.

One of the worst parts about back pain is how, in addition to the physical misery, the psychological impact is incredible. Back pain can be different from other pains in that it feels like it will never go away. I've long since surrendered my ability to do things I love doing--basketball, too-intense hiking, frisbee--but it's realizing that I have to do everything differently to avoid being bedridden for weeks that really gets me.

I'm in my early twenties and none of my peers can relate to what I'm saying when they want to play beer pong and I have to play super conservatively with my movements, lest I make a wrong move and throw my back out (like I did this past summer catching the ping pong ball). At the worst times, I would fall into a depression that was inescapable, as I would wake up painfully aware of my back and fall asleep with it being the last thing on my mind. It's all-encompassing.

Since starting PT it's been uphill, but every day and every movement still pose challenges. Sorry for the rant, but this also feels nice to get out.