i'm so sorry for your husbands pain and your concern for him and his pain, i don't have any advice either, i'm following your post though, i also have sometimes bad back pains, the last time i checked i had 1 herniated disk and 4 deteriating disk and they want to do surgery but so far i have choosen not to, don't know what that means for me in the long run, but from what you guys are saying, i may not want to have the surgery after all. right now, i'm able to take extra strength tylenol and maybe use a heating pad for pain, i choose not to take prescription pain meds because i do have an addictive nature and i did choose disability to help keep me from adding to my pain, i was a machinist too. so i don't understand how you and him feel. it was a big sacrifice for me to not continue to work, but thats ok, we're managing just fine now.
i don't have words of wisdom other than maybe get more opinions and i will keep both of you in my prayers