38 here. Back pain started last year. Exercise is the way to go. I do weights about once a week now and the pain is gone and I am in better shape in general.

Get younger.

Play the Uno reverse card.

I (somewhat cynically) recommend yoga. I hate that it works, but over the past 6 years I've gone from inflexible achy gym rat to the strongest/most flexible I've ever been. And old injuries seem to be fading, but that might be unrelated. Either way, can't deny that it did something really good

Mine was so bad I had to get my wife to put my socks and shoes on for me for a few weeks. I was only 30 at the time…

A friend got me and taking its advice was the best thing for me.

Chiro didn’t do shit for me but physical therapy (this book) did. Now I work out regularly to include straight leg deadlifts and my back feels great. Still working on flexibility but that has also improved.

See a physical therapist. They’ll train you on how to perform strengthening exercises properly to take pressure off your spine. It can be expensive depending on your insurance (if that’s a concern), but if you are consistent with the exercises it can definitely make a huge difference.