Hum. Patting on the back isn't one of the exercises I've been given for back pain? Try (a) face down, bend knees up (so that feet are waving in the air above you) and then rotate feet through slow circles. 10 or so reps each direction. (b) Face up, bend one leg up so that knee is above you, foot is down. Now bring knee across body as if to touch floor. Hips will rotate up when you do this. Again, 10 or so reps each way. (c) slow toe touching -- this is to stretch out the back muscles. The first two were recommended by a yoga teacher, and seem to help most. The third was recommended by a fellow lower back pain sufferer, and does relax things. One key -- don't force it.

Y'a know, if you put that manuscript on a usb stick, I'll bet it will fit in your pocket.:-)