Twenty years ago, I had a ruptured L5 disc, was on bed rest (except, eventually, for PT), couldn't work, my doctor said that if I didn't follow her protocol perfectly the next step was surgery, or I'd start to have enough sciatic nerve damage for real function loss.

My roommate rolled her eyes at me and said that her father had instilled in her a Work Ethic and that if I'd ever developed a work ethic I wouldn't let this pain bother me but would suck it up and go on living my life.

I'm glad I didn't listen, as my doctor's protocol worked, and I only get occasional sciatic twinges now when I sit wrong for too long.