In the meantime, get a firmer mattress for your bed (or rig your existing one to add firmer support). Use a single focused pillow under your neck for support - making sure placement is correct (contouring the bend of your neck) or you can roll a towel up tightly & use that underneath your neck instead. Place a pillow under your knees when laying down - this helps stabilize your position & minimizes “tossing & turning” (which aggravates an injury). Make your bed & yourself as comfortable as possible while in a resting position. If someone can help you with these things - that would be best.

It’s also very important you stretch your entire body slowly (spend extra time on your neck & back) daily for at least 20 min. - 1st thing when you wake up is a good time. You can also stretch throughout the day when needed. Massages can help, as well as acupuncture. Avoid weights & hard impact exercises (e.g., running). Light strengthening exercises should be mixed in, when possible - as with anything - don’t do it if it causes unnatural or unbearable pain (push-ups & pull-ups will surely cause unnatural/unbearable pain if you have a back issue). You’ll be able to decipher over time what you “can and cannot do” / what aggravates your situation (and then avoid those things). Regardless of any “shape” you may be in or out of - make certain you develop a daily, doable exercise regimen for yourself & eat healthy (fresh & raw fruits & veggies, whole grains, etc.). Any extra weight on your frame is extra burden your body/skeletal system must bear (whether that weight is from fat or muscle). Try all of these before looking at meds to relieve pain (due to their cyclic nature - they tend to make a situation worse over time by giving false sensations of relief).

Pay close attention to all other symptoms you may be experiencing (”pins & needles”, tingling, numbness, hot/cold sensations, headaches, chest pains, shooting or radiating pains, coordination problems, etc.) - just not in your back, but in your whole body (esp. your extremities) & keep a daily log that you can reference (note times when it feels ok, worse, etc. as well). This log esp. useful for your doctor appts.

Lastly, take time to research about any back issue you may be diagnosed with. If the doc recommends surgery (and they typically do - that’s the business they’re in) - research all options available before making a decision. Don’t get frightened into it (the mention of paralysis, etc.) - back injuries are difficult enough to deal with without the worry of worse case scenarios being added to it! Your body is young & has a good chance of recouping from injury & some back issues can be resolved alternatively over time w/ care or a combination of therapies. You decide what’s best for you. My advice is to save surgery as a last resort. Back/neck surgeries are risky & a good many people that have had them experience no or little relief, recurrence of pain, surrounding disc issues due to the area being weakened, etc. There are advances being made in the back surgery field though (some very recent - specifically for the lower regions), so you’ll want to look into those prior to making any decision too.

Hope this help & good luck with your situation!