How to build moving/lifting devices to save my back?

[Frank S]

I have to agree with Jon and others when it comes to back injuries. herniated disks are among the worst and most common it seams.Followed by pinched nerves
normal age related degeneration can begin to occur at around 40 years of age in some or may not become noticed until a person is in their 7th or 8th decade and most asuradly by the time a person reaches their 80's even the most active are going to experience some spinal related problems, even if they have led a very active healthy fitness regime through out their lives.
Not all injuries that occur should ever involve surgery as often times the repair becomes worst than the injury
In 1987 while modifying those D10 dozer blades a 1000 lb hunk of metal pinched me out from under the blade like a teenager wold pop a pimple on their face. I knew I was hurt pretty bad as I felt a pop in my lower back I managed to grab hold of a welding table and stretch myself across it while letting my lower body go limp I stayed that way until they took me to the hospital. x rays and colored die reveled a compression fracture to a lobe on the T12 vertebra. given a back brace prescribed pain killers sent home to await evaluation for surgery called 3 days later to discuss options. Fusion recommended I declined never had the surgery stopped pain pills after 2 weeks returned to work light duty with helper to do any lifting more than 10 lbs Started doing physical therapy 2 months of that quit going never regretted my decision
Friend of mine 5 years younger than me had similar injury year later by falling off a truck bed had surgery year later had another surgery kept on morphine pain killers had more surgeries by 1997 had a morphine pump installed been through 7 surgeries by year 2002 died 2003
I do about anything and everything I want or need sometimes pay for it with back pains for week or so take a few over counter pills for few days,realize that I'm not 40 ish any more but sometimes just have to do what I have to do.
I've also got a piece of shrapnel been there since 1972 close to my LAD artery cellular growth around it built up and closed it 90% opted get a stint in 2012 instead of open chest cavity surgery will know in 30 years if was the correct decision