I think the emphasis should be on strengthening your abdominal muscles and your buttocks. If you strengthen those muscles you put less of a burden on your lower back. And you definitely need to stretch your lower back. But you have to be very careful not to overdo that -- best to get a book written by a physical therapist that can walk you through the steps -- what to do and what not to do. And you need to get in the habit of stretching your back GENTLY every day. If you are prone to lower back problems -- if you have had them on more than two or three occasions, and they made you very uncomfortable -- you should also get some guidance on simple things we usually don't think about, like how to sit and get up from a chair or from bed, how to get into a car without twisting yourself in such a way that you put extra stress on your lower back, how to bend down to pick something up (bend you knees and keep your back straight). Lower back problems are very very common. It's one of the prices we pay for being upright creatures. But you can reduce their frequqncy and intensity by following the rules. If you go to webmd.com you might get some hints on the kind of books that might be helpful. Or just browse around in you public library or a bookstore. Good luck.

I apoligize for not writing sooner. We have been busy and away for about 2 weeks and in and out of the house. The MRI showed nothing wrong. I went to see my doctor and from all the tests it revealed that it has to be Diverticulitus. I guess that is better than having something worse. So far the pain has not come back. But I do notice I can not get out of a chair as quickly as I did....Betty in Florida

My first thought was also gallstones, until you mentioned the tremendous amount of stress you've been under. I would BET the stress is causing your back pain. I know this will sound crazy, but you need to read the book: Healing Back Pain: The Mind - Body Connection by Dr. John Sarno. You are probably suffering from Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), the name Dr. Sarno gave to this condition. The book teaches you how stress causes most back problems. Just reading the book will probably cure your back. Don't take my word for it. Read some of these reviews on Amazon. I bought my book on eBay for about $4. It stays loaned out to friends most of the time, so I'm thinking about buying a second copy so I will always have one on hand. Seriously, read some of these reviews so you'll know how much this book can help your back pain. This is one of the best books I own, and I reread it anytime my back starts to hurt, and it's always when I am stressed out about something. I first heard about Dr. Sarno on the TV program 20/20 about ten years ago, and it showed him healing three different patients, just by teaching them that they can cure their back with their mind. Just knowing about the TMS syndrome and how the mind works will make your back stop hurting. It's so simple, it's unreal. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: 318 book reviews on Amazon

I have always been told that you should only lay on a rolled towel for no longer than 15 or 20 minutes. I had a few years of dizzy spells, passed out one time and broke my humorous in 3 places. I woke up one night, was sick to my stomach and so dizzy I could not walk. That is when I realized it was the bean neck pillow. I threw it away and never had a serious dizzy spell since. I also have a friend with the disease that starts with an m, mineras or something like that. He passes out all of the time and he believes it is the position of his neck when he has problems. So be careful about laying on a towel or semi hard pillow.