[Drrichross]

As many have alluded to, looking at changes in lifestyle and activities since moving to TV might help. One major lifestyle change many have after the move is changing to the golf cart lifestyle. Does he do a lot of cart driving? Look at the steering column on a golf cart and compare to a car/truck. The column on a cart is on a much more vertical angle. Thus when you drive you are more hunched over the radius. You steer more with shoulders than wrists as the focal point of pivot. The forces then get transferred to the next joint in line which is spine instead of elbow/ shoulder. Also seats are more upright than a sedan style cockpit, so you get a much more horizontal load onto spine and hips. In a car your legs are more in front than below, which gives a pelvic tilt and unloads the spine. Also lack of shocks add more jarring force to an unsupported, compromised spine.
This may not be his particular issue, but it is a major lifestyle change that many villagers go thru without realizing. Part of the fun of TV is being able to drive for hours in a cart. That's what I tell people up north. But golf carts were not designed for this, and by design are possibly the worst mode of travel, but are so fun. Every time we come down (snow flakes) the first thing we do is hop in the cart and drive from Mulberry to explore the new areas. I always pay the price with back pain, but as an osteopathic physician I know some tricks and stretches that work for me. I would suggest that if he does a lot of cart driving he take a break until seeing the surgeon. Also maybe try a supporting back brace to take stress off the muscles that are trying to stabilize his spine. Just my thoughts. Good luck. But remember in most cases surgery is the last resort. It may help, but there isn't much to offer beyond that, and if lifestyle (bed, activities, weight, osteoporosis, exercise...) aren't addressed as well the problem just returns and now your last resort has been used.