EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING THE CONTINUOUS MINER ACROSS THE LAST OPEN X-CUT. WHEN HE HUNG THE MINER CABLE TO THE ROOF HIS BACK STARTED HURTING. HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR ON 7/30/04 BUT XRAYS WERE NEGATIVE. HE CONTINUED TO HAVE PAIN AND ON 9/29 HE WENT FOR A MRI. THE RESULTS SHOWED TWO BULGED DISCS AND THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM TO START MISSING WORK AND SEE A SURGEON. HE STARTED MISSING ON 9/29/04.