Hey there Peachey, fellow lower back sufferer here. And I'm 71. I've had both knees replaced, right hip, left shoulder. Rampant osteoarthritis.

And my lumbar spine is a mess - stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerated discs and arthritis spurs everywhere. Three years ago I committed to getting my weight from 190 to 150 (I'm 5'10"). My weight is now consistently between 151-155, and I'll take that!

I used cardio and cut way down on sugar to achieve this, and I'm a former marathon runner - done in eventually by arthritis. I spin 5x/week for cardio and 2x/week resistance training.

My back surgeon tells me my lumbar spine is being held together by a very strong set of core muscles. That's fine w/me. Replacing a joint is relatively straightforward, with few complications.

But lumbar surgery, including fusion - well I'd really like to avoid that. So glute thrusts and ab exercises are a big part of my weekly routine. And there are many, many ways to strengthen your core that don't take up a lot of time. Stretching the lower back also helps.

Be well, friend.

Joe