Similar history to everyone else; back injury in my 20's, 40 years later still have occasional problems. Loss of weight, exercise and walking help a lot to keep it at bay. Also, I find that many chairs simply do not support my lower back properly, and will quickly bring on the first symptoms. I find a small pillow or cushion supporting the lower part of my back will alleviate or prevent problems. Airline and car seats are the worst offenders.

When I do start having problems, I find an old fashioned heating pad helps a lot---helps relax the muscles I think.