I developed severe back pain and sciatica years ago when I went skiing after not doing so for years. I was with a fast French guy and trying to keep up. Took a couple hard GS type turns and felt something give. Went to doctor, had MRI, diagnosis: I have old man spine. Arthritic facets, spinal stenosis, and thin discs. Like duh. The radiologist either missed the soft tissue injuries or maybe the MRI didn't show them, or maybe he was just looking for confirmation of Old Man Spine Disease.

Anyway, I looked into it. Turns out that back in the bad old days, docs prescribed pain meds and rest. Now the good ones prescribe exercise and no pain meds, lots of exercise, gradually ramping up what you can do. I immediately bought Core Advantage and spent the first year gradually working my way through all the exercises in it. Then I started weight work in the gym. So that must have been about 7 years ago.

Today, I lift weights at the gym 2 days/week year 'round, except dropping to 1 day/week for high summer. I do whole body work including barbell squats with all the weight I can move, use a back machine, stiff legged deadlifts, all that stuff. I can also ski like a maniac again, no problems. Sure, my back hurts a little from time to time, but I can fix that at the gym. Pain goes away after a hard workout. So far so good.

My bike also really helped with the back pain. Ride 'til it hurts, rest it until it doesn't, repeat. Bike is the best and cheapest doctor I ever had. I also have a stretched out position, slammed stem, lots of reach, etc.

I also stretch every morning after I've been up for an hour or so.