If you want to stay alive, stay out of the hospital whenever possible. Most problems do not require surgery, always research non-surgical solutions. For instance, appendicitis can often be resolved by antibiotics. Ask a surgeon, he'll say you need surgery. Ask a barber, he'll say you need a haircut. Most of the time, back surgery isn't necessary, there are ways that you can rehab a bad back, often that involves just getting stronger, decompressing the disks, etc. Most likely your back and knees hurt because they are weak and no longer used through their full range of motion. Joints lose cartilage when they aren't used, your body just figures you don't need it. lol Often what is shown on an MRI is not the cause of pain. There are many unnecessary knees and back surgeries based on these images. You cannot determine the source of pain in a joint by looking at an MRI. Your knee or back could look like shit and be pain free or look great and hurt like hell. I had an inguinal hernia that I healed myself within a couple years by wearing a brace every day, walking, and doing exercises. Everyone said surgery, I said, "fuck you". lol What they don't tell you is that some people the surgery doesn't work and they end up in excruciating pain, it can also rupture again. I went to an ear doctor because one of my ears was plugged up, my dentist is my hero. That's the kind of shit they're good at.