Here's a quick overview of my back condition for the curious. No, I'm not trying to put my condition on a pedestal and whine like a baby because I have it so hard. At least I can walk and swing a stickball bat (most of the time). Surely countless others have it much worse.

I have scoliosis like many people, and like fewer people, spina bifida occulta. I was born this way (unless someone hit me with a sledge hammer in my sleep) and it looks like I'll be this way for the rest of my life.

If you look real close (sorry, the picture is small) you'll notice that the lowest vertebrae has no spinus process (the knob thing you feel when you touch your spine). This essentially means there is a hole in my spine, but it's "occulta" which means the spinal cavity is covered.

There are a couple vertebrae that are naturally fused together, but the most painful part seems to be the bottom where the bottom two vertebrae meet at an unnatural angle. There is very little disc cartilage there, so the slightest bit of movement can cause wondrous pain as the nerves and bones grind together.

Half the time I feel fine. The other half, there's dull pain and I limp. Every now and again, I'm bed ridden and in intense pain. I try to sleep on my back and take it easy physically to keep it from getting to that point.

Okay, that's all.