my back pains

I hurt my back around 1984 lifting a large box. I wen to a chiropractor
and it was
better for a long time. Around 1996 I started longboard surfing. I
found if I paddled too hard for a wave it
bothered my back, so I learned to paddle more moderately and let the
tough waves go. This initial
problem however seemed to awaken my back to some pain off and on. I
started going to a chinese doctor who did a couple chiropractor moves
and then set me up with accupunture needles with
a slight electircal current into my lower back for about 10 minutes or
so. This seemed to help a bit.
Sometime after that a new problem kicked in. I often sleep in my truck
at lunches for a nap.
Something I feel I need to do as I have insomnia and often am tired
during the day. I have a truck camper with a bed and a mattress. The
mattress doesn't seem that comfortable and bothers my back so I put a
thermorest mattress that hikers use on top of the mattress which gives
additional stiffness.
This seems to help. Before that, I used to sleep in the cab once in
awhile which seemed to aggravate the back. Lately I have been having
lower pain on the sides and on top of the legs. A nurse practitioner
said it was a pinched nerve and I should put a hot/wet compress on my
lower back and lie on that.
That seems to help a little. I try to watch my posture too, lately when
I have been home sick several days and lying in bed, this pinched nerve
seems to act up. I have recently taken up snowboarding, but
I am trying to get into it easy and not ski beyond my limit. I feel I
need to do something to stay active,
I really hate running and going to the gym. Snowboarding often helps me
relax and feel good
after I have had a session, but I am concerned about the risk there as
well.
My mother is in her mid 70's, she's not that active, but her knee
bothers her from a skiing accident many many years hence, she sometimes
has real problems walking. I am concerned with my back that when I get
older like her I could have alot of problems, but I don't really know
how realistic those fears are.

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