Still waiting on my MRI from the VA but I got my back X-rays and the doc announced today that I am old and their ain't sheet I can do about it
General wear and tear leading to arthritis in the lumbar region, PT and time should help the acute problem, keep the exercises up and all that but motocross riding has a ticking clock. Maybe I'll take up fishing
But I am moving around, PT kind of beat me up some today but a have a routine of vicodin and flexoril that takes the edge off and has allowed my to slowly work on the camper mods. Basically I raised the two sleeping platforms 4" and now the front low bed also serves as a seat for the dinette. I ripped out the frame of the couch/bed and raised it 4" using the oak 3/4" plywood as suggested and that now is the other seat for the dinette. I used the existing table post (relocated of course) and mounts and made the tabletop out of more of my 4x8 sheet of plywood.
Tonight I cut some 15/64 plywood to make new bases for the cushions that will go where the couch/bed was. Instead of what was one long cushion I will have two, one that will be for my butt when I'm sitting at the dinette (facing forward) and the other will cover the gap when the table is down. I wasn't sure I was going to bridge that but my dogs use that area to jump to the cabover bed and it serves as the landing area for them. So for sleeping time I'll take the table down and put the plywood backed cushion back in that spot. Next task is to create the new cushions. I'm going to try to use the material (fabric and foam) from the couch on my newly sized plywood bases, cuz I'm a cheap old retired Scotsman
Then a bit of sanding, some trim, stain, and seal, and a test run. Of course I still need to replace the front lifter which I imagine will require some back flexibility. I think it is going to suit my needs, not really giving up anything and getting a better place to eat when stuck inside and some more storage from having raised everything 4". Moral of the story is don't get old and if that can't be managed fix up the camper before your back goes to ****