When it's your back it's pretty hard to do anything that doesn't agitate it. If I could go back a redo anything in my life, it would be being easier on my back. I can't control having arthritis, but I may have been able to reduce the other damage I've done to it.Lisa, I was only up and around for about an hour and a half. No heavy lifting for a day or two, or I will be laid up for several days. I was up and down quite a bit today, so will do more walking and stretching the next couple of days. I always feel so dumb when I mess up my back... it's totally preventable if I think about it.