I'm not letting anyone cut on my back. Butthe VA for sure!
I feel for ya brother! My surgeries have been limited. Tonsillectomy and appendectomy were the main two. When I got hurt in the military, I had several to remove most of the BS pieces of crap. I was 25 when I got hurt. Doc said a physically weaker person would not have survived, I was a big boy at 290lbs and 11% fat. It took a year and a half to be able to get back to full duty..... docs were amazed......I took half the time they estimated. Pain is never fully gone, but I'm a stubborn fugger! I refuse to stoop to taking opiates in any form. That's why I'm here!
It's good that you have some help. Stay strong and stay stubborn man!