I have 3 torn disks in my lumbar region and some days it hurts way more than others. I think when it really flairs though it is much worse. I am always in pain of some kind with it but like right now I am in a really bad flair so the pain is thru the roof and has been for a couple of weeks now. when not in a flair you just learn to deal with it. but you never know when it will flair on you.