Has your Dr suggested any surgical intervention to deal with this chronic pain? I'm 70 and my lumbar spine is a disaster area - stenosis, scoliosis, listhesis, degenerative discs and arthritis spurs everywhere.

I'm fortunate that 1) I don't have pain and 2) I can go to the gym everyday to keep my core strong. My back is certainly stiff but nothing like what you describe. My surgeon told me my strong core is all standing between me and a fusion of S1, L5, and L4 - something I will avoid at all costs.