(Talk to your doctor, this is just how it plays out for me)

Short term, there is a 3 to 5 day recovery where you need everything to calm down. The pain is largely due to your body tightening up and pulling in different directions. The actual injury pain is there but far less. Use flexeril, ibuprofen, maybe steroids, and rest to get through the first few days.

Long term, exercise and weight management is now your main lifelong hobby. You need a low body fat percentage, a strong core, and relatively good flexibility. Yoga and planks are now your friend. You really really don’t want the injury to ramp up to where you need surgery.

Hope this helps. But seriously don’t just take my advice based on my particular back problems.