Sorry to hear about your back---I hope that whatever surgery you are having will alleviate your current pain.
Those of us living, and aging, in these times will all probably experience a number of surgeries and joint replacements. It's a good problem to have on one hand, but also pretty overwhelming on the other. I often think about my grandmother, who suffered for over 25 years from arthritis before she died in 1966. She lived in the time before NSAIDS, replacement surgeries, arthritis meds, etc. As I was dealing with the osteoporosis of my hip, (and my previous spinal stenosis in my back) I kept thinking about her, and what it must have been like not to have the options that I did, in terms of therapy, meds, and surgeries. I wish you luck with your next steps.