Most Back Pain Doesn’t Need Surgery: The Torre Prime Guide to Real Recovery, Real Strength, and Real Longevity

Why therapy, precision-based exercise, and Stuart McGill–style spine science outperform quick fixes.

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. It’s also one of the most over-treated and poorly treated conditions in the modern medical system. Every year, more than a million Americans undergo spine surgeries—yet a significant percentage of these were never necessary and never address the root cause.

At Torre Prime, we see a different path forward. One rooted in longevity science, functional resilience, and what researchers like Stuart McGill have shown for decades:
Most back pain is mechanical, modifiable, and highly responsive to the right combination of coaching, movement, stabilization, and intelligent loading—not surgery, opioids, or endless MRIs.

The Problem With Insurance-Driven Back Pain Care

Traditional insurance-driven medicine creates a perfect storm:

1. Over-imaging → Over-diagnosis

MRI findings don’t correlate well with pain.
Disc bulges, mild degenerative changes, or annular tears show up in pain-free people every day. But once they’re on the report, fear escalates, surgeons get involved, and everything spirals.

2. Fast referrals to specialists who specialize in… surgery

If the only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
Patients are rushed toward injections or surgery long before they’ve had targeted, evidence-based rehab.

3. Under-prescribed physical therapy

Insurance caps PT visits, pays poorly for long appointments, and often constrains therapists to “generic low-back pain protocols.”
True spine rehab requires precision, coaching, time, and individualization—not 8 minutes of Theraband exercises.

4. Painkillers instead of root-cause analysis

Opioids, muscle relaxers, and steroids can mask pain but rarely solve anything.

5. No one teaches the patient how to move

Most back pain is aggravated by everyday mechanics:

• How you get out of a car

• How you bend to tie a shoe

• How you lift groceries

• How you sit at work

These habits matter more than an MRI ever will.

Torre Prime was built to fix exactly these failures.

The McGill Model: The Gold Standard for Spine Longevity

Stuart McGill, PhD—arguably the world’s leader in spine biomechanics—has shown that most chronic back pain improves through:

1. Removing the painful triggers

Not with rest, but by identifying which movements cause the pain.

2. Rebuilding stability

The “Big 3” (McGill curl-up, side plank, bird dog) are foundational.
Not flashy, but incredibly effective.

3. Teaching spine-sparing movement patterns

Hip hinge
Neutral spine
Bracing
Power breathing
These are longevity tools.

4. Progressive loading and resilience

A spine that is strong, stable, and well-conditioned is a spine that lasts.

No surgery required.
No injections.
No unnecessary imaging.
Just science, coaching, and disciplined precision.

This is the essence of how Torre Prime approaches back pain within the broader longevity framework:
Build the body. Build capacity. Build resilience. Build the future.

Why Back Pain Is Different for Different People

A special section for Straight Men, GBQ Men, and Women

Back pain doesn’t show up in a vacuum. It interacts with lifestyle, culture, identity, expectations, and stress patterns. Torre Prime recognizes these nuances—because personalization is central to longevity.

For Straight Men: “Strength ≠ Ignoring Pain”

Many straight men have been conditioned to “tough it out,” ignore early symptoms, and push through mechanical flaws until something tears, spasms, or breaks.

Common patterns we see:

• Weekend warrior injuries

• Poor hip/ankle mobility from desk jobs

• Heavy lifting with poor mechanics

• Avoiding medical care until pain is severe

• Belief that surgery is the “fix”

What they need:
A science-driven, ego-free approach that rewrites movement patterns, rebuilds true core strength, restores mobility, and gives them back confidence in their body without the “take a pill and go” culture.

At Torre Prime, we emphasize:

• Performance-based spine health

• Stability work as strength, not weakness

• A long-term “decathlon mentality” over quick fixes

For GBQ Men: “Your Body Is Central to Your Identity—Protect It”

Many gay, bisexual, and queer men live in environments where physical expression, sexuality, aesthetics, and performance all intersect. Back pain affects:

• Confidence

• Sexual expression

• Energy

• Fitness identity

• Emotional regulation

GBQ men also face unique stress pathways (Minority Stress Theory) that increase muscle tension, sleep disruption, and systemic inflammation—factors that amplify pain.

Common patterns we see:

• Tight hip flexors/glutes from high-intensity training

• Sedentary desk work + nightlife cycles

• Stress-driven bracing patterns

• Postural imbalances from aesthetic-driven training

• Fear of losing physical capacity or sexual vitality

What they need:
A longevity-driven model that accounts for biomechanics, stress physiology, sexual health, and the cultural expectations placed on GBQ men’s bodies.

Torre Prime specializes in this—because this is your community’s space in the program.

For Women: “Back Pain Isn’t ‘All In Your Head’”

Women are too often dismissed or minimized in traditional medicine. Back pain is written off as:

• Stress

• Hormones

• “Weak core”

• “Just part of aging”

Women face unique contributors to back dysfunction:

• Pelvic floor imbalances

• Pregnancy-related changes

• Hormonal shifts

• Osteopenia/osteoporosis risk

• Hypermobile joints

• Undiagnosed sacroiliac dysfunction

What they need:
Precision assessment, not dismissal.
Strength development, not patronizing explanations.
A longevity program that honors how women’s bodies actually move, age, and adapt.

Torre Prime has now expanded to fully include women—and this is exactly why:
Women deserve more than the insurance-driven standard. They deserve science, respect, and results.

How Torre Prime Treats Back Pain Differently

1. Precision biomechanical evaluation

We assess patterns, not just pain.

2. A Stuart McGill–inspired stabilization program

Customized. Progressive. Measurable.

3. Movement-based diagnosis

We test what makes your pain better or worse—this guides everything.

4. Longevity principles

We integrate:

• Zone 2 training

• VO₂max development

• Strength and stability protocols

• Anti-inflammatory nutrition

• Sleep optimization

• Stress physiology

• Recovery states (Downstate cycles)

5. High-touch care → No insurance limitations

Long appointments
Real coaching
Integrated training plans
Data-driven progress metrics
And yes—access to your physician whenever you need guidance.

The Truth

Most people don’t need back surgery.
They need:

• Better movement

• Better coaching

• Better strength

• Better recovery

• Better long-term planning

They need a longevity framework, not a pain-management treadmill.

They need Torre Prime.

Connection Is Medicine: The Hidden Health Effects of Loneliness

— Gabriel Felsen, MD

When was the last time you felt truly seen — not just in the room with others, but genuinely connected?

We live in one of the most socially connected times in history, yet loneliness and isolation were recently declared a national epidemic. And the truth is, it’s not just an emotional issue — it’s a biological one.

As a longevity physician, I see this every day. People ask about supplements, hormones, and bloodwork. But when we dig deeper, what’s missing isn’t magnesium or testosterone — it’s connection.

Loneliness, it turns out, is as dangerous to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Loneliness vs. Social Isolation: What’s the Difference?

These words get used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing.

• Social Isolation is the objective lack of contact with others — living alone, few friends, or infrequent interactions.

• Loneliness is the subjective feeling of disconnection — that sense of being unseen or misunderstood, even in a crowd.

You can have hundreds of contacts and still feel lonely, or live alone and feel completely fulfilled. The difference lies in meaningful connection — being known, accepted, and valued for who you really are.

The Biology of Disconnection

When we feel lonely, our body reacts as if we’re in danger. It’s an ancient survival mechanism — isolation once meant vulnerability.

That means loneliness triggers the stress response:

• Elevated cortisol, raising blood pressure and inflammation.

• Suppressed immune function, making you more likely to get sick.

• Disrupted sleep cycles, robbing the brain of restorative deep rest.

• Even shorter telomeres — the protective caps on your DNA that shrink as you age.

Over time, chronic isolation increases your risk for:

• Heart disease and stroke

• Dementia and cognitive decline

• Depression and anxiety

• Premature mortality

In short: loneliness accelerates aging.

When we talk about longevity, we often focus on diet, exercise, or supplements. But connection is the original longevity medicine — it lowers inflammation, boosts immunity, and restores nervous system balance.

The Intersection of Chronic Illness, HIV, and Depression

For many in our community, loneliness is compounded by chronic illness and stigma.

HIV, for example, carries unique emotional weight. The ongoing need for disclosure, fear of judgment, and fatigue from long-term care can deepen isolation — even in people with strong medical support. Yet research shows that social connection improves medication adherence and even immune function among people living with HIV.

Depression works the same way — it both causes and worsens loneliness. The brain literally processes emotional pain through the same regions as physical pain. That’s why rejection or disconnection can feel like a punch to the gut.

And for LGBTQ+ individuals, minority stress — the chronic strain of navigating stigma, discrimination, or invisibility — takes a measurable toll on both mental and physical health. Many of us find belonging through chosen family, but when those bonds shift through aging, relocation, or loss, the risk of isolation increases again.

How to Recognize the Warning Signs

Loneliness doesn’t always look like sadness. Often, it shows up as fatigue, irritability, or self-neglect.

Common risk factors include:

• Living alone or losing a partner

• Retirement or loss of daily structure

• Chronic illness or physical limitations

• Major life transitions (divorce, relocation, coming out later in life)

And warning signs can be subtle:

• Skipping social gatherings

• Neglecting appearance or hygiene

• Expressing feelings of hopelessness or being “invisible”

• Spending hours online without real contact

If you recognize these in yourself or someone you love, it’s not a weakness — it’s a signal. The body is asking for connection.

Connection as a Longevity Prescription

The antidote to loneliness isn’t just “getting out more.” It’s rebuilding your body’s capacity for connection — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Here’s where I start with patients:

1. Reset your nervous system.
Rest and recovery aren’t indulgent — they’re essential. Deep sleep, time in nature, and slowing down all help your body re-enter what sleep expert Sara Mednick calls the Downstate — the healing mode where connection becomes possible again.

2. Anchor yourself with rituals of connection.
Have a weekly dinner, join a walking group, volunteer, or start attending community events. Rituals build rhythm — and rhythm builds belonging.

3. Aim for one genuine connection per day.
A real conversation. A phone call. Eye contact with someone at the café. These micro-moments of presence stimulate oxytocin, the hormone of trust and safety.

4. Seek professional or peer support when needed.
Therapy, support groups, and telehealth check-ins are valid medical interventions. For LGBTQ+ adults, spaces like the Pride Center at Equality Park, SAGE, or peer HIV navigator programs offer structured ways to reconnect.

5. Reframe loneliness as biology — not failure.
Feeling lonely doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means your system is sending a survival signal. You are wired to belong.

Connection Is Medicine

Loneliness isn’t cured by willpower — it’s healed through relationship.

When you reconnect — with people, purpose, and community — you shift your body back into balance. Your hormones, immune system, and heart all respond.

So as you think about your own health this week, ask yourself:
Who will I reach out to — not out of obligation, but out of care?

Because connection is medicine. And every meaningful interaction is a dose that helps you live longer, stronger, and more fully alive.

Local Resources:

• The Pride Center at Equality Park — social and support groups for all ages and identities

• SAGE South Florida — community and programs for LGBTQ+ older adults

• NAMI Broward County — mental health support groups

• Torre Prime Longevity — integrative care focused on longevity, vitality, connection, and purpose

Dr. Gabe Felsen
Men’s Longevity and Vitality Physician
Torre Prime — Start Strong, Rise Higher.