Thank you guys!

Yep! The posture thing! Makes perfect sense! This would certainly explain why I didn't seem to have this 'back issue problem' right after surgery because I had a leave of absence and didn't have to sit at a desk......
I was on HERE most of the time, sitting with a laptop conveniently leaning back on pillows yacking away into cyberspace

Now, I'm beginning to see that this has perhaps backfired on me a bit......
Not the 'yacking in cyberspace' THIS has been my saving grace! But the position my body has been in is a very comfortable reclined position, laptop at the ready and my buttbuzz in high gear.....
So, no wonder raking horse doodies hasn't affected me in a negative way,....it's probably doing wonders to strengthen the lower back muscles that I inadvertently allowed to become seriously lax!

The distress on lower back plus my not-so-good posture....of course!
Good Lord, sometimes it takes a simple knock over the head to see the forrest for the trees!!

Mark, the acupuncture sounds very intriguing!! Certainly worth checking into!
What do you think Vanna?