I work on masonry all day long most days. I really enjoy working with my hands, so I loved my job when I first started in my early 20s. Over the years, my job had become less enjoyable due to the back pain I began experiencing on most work days. I hesitated to mention it to my doctor, because I didn't want to take any strong pain medications. When the pain became unbearable, I spoke to my doctor and he recommended physical therapy. I was unsure if it would work, but thought, "What have I got to lose?" While it took a few sessions before I noticed drastic pain relief, my pain is now under control and I rarely reach for OTC pain medications anymore. I know others out there work in strenuous fields and I plan to post many more tips for staying healthy when working a tough job!