One of my girlfriends has just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Talk about an invisible illness...it makes almost everything hurt, and yet a substantial chunk of the medical community continues to deny its existence. Her parents don't even believe that she's sick (and think that, if she is, it's a punishment from God for being bi and poly, but that's a whole other story). So I certainly know where you're coming from. ::big hugs:: I hope the less invasive methods enable you to get some relief.

And if I may ask...as an anatomy professor, I'm very curious about how you managed to herniate all three of those vertebrae simultaneously. That's a good trick.