Well, I got the report from the Doc tonight and the GOOD news is that 1) there's no kidney stones or bladder infections or anything like that, and 2) the degenerative discs in my spine have NOT gotten much worse ... the not as good news is that the pain IS coming from those discs and the arthritis around them ... So, no surgery, shots or any other such thing, thank goodness ... just a mild muscle relaxer, some anti-inflammatory pain med, and some PT with a chiropractor ...