EE MISSED HIS FIRST DAY OF WORK ON 12/11/02. HE HAS A HISTORY OF BACK RELATED PROBLEMS DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1980'S. HE HAS RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE DURING MOST OF HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH P/M LOCAL. PER THE ADVICE OFSEVERAL DR.'S, SURGERY ISN'T AN OPTION.