However, after two months of working. in the loading unit she began to experience persistent lower-back pain. Andrews felt sure that hurried lifting techniques were to blame but she valued the approval of her supervisor and fellow workers too much to do anything that might slow her down. finally, one day while loading a truck, Andrews fell to the could not get up. Her back throbbed with intense pain, and her legs were numb. She had to be rushed to the emergency room of the local hospital. by the time Andrews checked out of the hospital a week later, r surgery to repair two ruptured discs.