I've been there. It does hurt. Believe me when I say that though there will be good days and bad days, if you do the DB work you will feel better.
I'm curious, though, why you feel ready to do what your BIL says when you got similar advice at the start of your thread and didn't want to go there? What has changed for you?
Me42, H40 D12, S8, S7 A revealed: 7/13 Sep 4/14; Agreed to D 1/15
