Mr. B. is a 56-year old electrical linesman. Two weeks ago he and a co-worker had to lift a heavy spool of cable in a shaft that was 2 meters deep but only had a one-meter wide opening. In the course of his work, he experienced pain in his back that was so severe that he couldn't move and co-workers had to carry him. Mr. B. spent the night not in bed, but sitting on a kitchen chair with his arms propped on the table. Lying down was impossible because of the pain. At this point, the acute back pain abated, and Mr. B. complains of tearing pains that radiate laterally down the right leg to the right toe when he bends.