IN many cases sometimes a nerve block can be done. I have known some friends with bad backs and they regretted the surgery. Snow is also heavy and a back brace would help with support. when I was a kid I grabbed the shovel after school and go to work. I took what people would pay. Many I worked for was older people. Made good money every time. Kids are spoiled now they have everything they want nothing to work for. I shoveled lots of snow in Chicago as a kid.