How Not to Explain Lower Back Pain

Ink pens and markers on 8.5" x 5.5" paper by Joe Chiappetta 2011

The comic is an excerpt from my book The Back Pain Avenger (available now).

While kneeling during a meeting is a little unusual, I practiced this frequently to reduce the stress on my back from sitting. Whenever people would ask about it, I would resist the urge to tell them that I was praying continually, like the Bible states. Rather, I often stated the simple truth; "My back is messed up and sitting hurts." That said, I sure wore out the knees on corduroy pants a lot quicker than the average office worker.

That said, there were more than a few odd times where I was so frustrated with everything about my disability that I would kneel at a meeting and not even attempt to explain my position. One such time, a colleague asked, "Don't you want to sit in a chair during this meeting?"

"No, never!" I replied in frustration. This of course, is how NOT to explain lower back pain at the office, or anywhere else, for that matter.

To find out how I survived these and other such ordeals (politically incorrect or not), order The Back Pain Avenger as an eBook now--while supplies last!