I agree with others who say “what was the diagnosis?” I have had back pain most of my adult life, but it got worse over time. I was diagnosed with scoliosis, resulting in degenerative disk issues. I tried, due to insurance regulations, the steroid injections. Sometimes they worked, sometimes not, but never for long. Just this past spring I had surgery on my L3 and L4 disks (a spacer was inserted between them to replace almost total disk failure.) It has made a huge difference, and my doctor is hopeful that the other disks will work for a while without help. (I think he was trying NOT to say “for the rest of your short life, because you are really old!”) But the reality is that the other disks are also degenerated so there is a chance that I will have to have further surgery.
If your doctor has referrred you to a surgeon, it may be what is required. Here in our hometown in Michigan, we do not have the long wait times for doctors, but if I had to I would have just put my name in and waited to see the surgeon to hear what he had to say. Maybe ask to be on a cancellation list, or look further out, like Ocala or even Orlando to find someone who can see you sooner. I was not able to find any relief until I had the surgery.
I do agree with others that lifestyle changes make a huge difference. I found that golfing was very hard on my back when it was at its worst. Also, weight changes over the years were a factor.
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