[quote="Carl Skywalker"]That gel helps my knee, I wonder of there's anything I can do to help ease my back pain until I can get the surgery, since that's going to be years off.

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Going for walks and doing some simple yoga exercises do wonders for my back. Though it is my lower back, I'm not sure how other parts of the back would be affected. Though, I don't think they would hurt, provided you were careful. Yoga is something you really have to ease yourself into; you won't start off doing a perfect downward dog, and should modify stretches based on your limitations. That's assuming you'd be able and willing to try yoga. If not, then that's fine too.