Nuts.

The news is not good for JD.

He's got a herniated disc. When a disc herniates, the nucleus pulposus in the center of the intervertabral disc squishes out through the anulus fibrosus. From there it can irritate the nearby nerves causing pain, weakness, and loss of motion.

The typical treatment for a herniated disc is to not do anything. For most patients, the disc will heal itself within a month. Pain pills and back strengthening exercises are all that's typically needed. In more extreme cases surgery is necessary. In the surgery they either take out the disc or bits of it. It wouldn't be the ideal solution for someone who needs to keep their back flexible.

Illustration from the Mayo Clinic.