Unfortunately alls I can give you is more uncertainty. My wife has a multitude of issues that we try to get through but one that is floating above us is a very similar back problem. We are old enough to have experienced insurance roulete and when she was young she was in a car accident where a semi accordioned the car she was in. She has issues with both lower and upper spine but at this point we don't really see any real solution besides fusion. Which we have seen enough issues around that such that we want to avoid it until its just to bad to ignore. So basically as long as she is not in a wheel chair we likely won't go that direction. She sometimes gets pain shots and out of some desperation she gets chiropractic (insurance will pay for unlimited chiro but limits physical therapy). We get by because we are sinks where I am the bread winner. She can do things in moderation but generally she can't sit or stand in on position very long and when she does things she is on this clock where if its kept down to an hour she might be okay but if it goes to two there will be repercussions and if its many hours then it can lay her up for days. Essentially she is quasi bed bound where to stay functional she must be in bed more often than not through out the day. Sorry this is not more helpful but maybe it will make you feel a bit better in terms of other people do face issues like this.