Well, shoot. I just got back from seeing the back doctor again, and the advice is that it is too dangerous for me to travel right now. The diagnosis is an annular disc tear:

The outer 1/3 of the disc’s annular ring is highly innervated with pain fibers. Thus, if a tear involves the outer 1/3 it may be extremely painful. This tear will heal with scar tissue over time but is more prone to future tears and injury. Studies also indicate that annular tears may lead to premature degeneration of the disc, endplates, and facet joints.

Fun! Doc says if I don’t take it very easy over the next week, the tear could get worse and then the disc itself would bulge against the bone. That would be a serious situation. So, I am ordered to stay sedentary, not to bend or twist, and remain doped up with steroids, muscle relaxants, and painkillers.

Notice he did not say “North Carolina barbecue.”

I apologize to all y’all who were planning to come hear me speak at one of the Chapel Hill venues later this week. It hardly needs saying (but I’m going to say it anyway) that I didn’t see this coming. We’re going to reschedule this trip as soon as we can.