Also, barring structural problems in one's body that might preclude the activity, the way to a healthy spine may in fact be to deadlift.....
Mind you, if there are no blatant issues with vertebrae or discs and you can comfortably pick up a barbell of 135 pounds, then you are at the beginning of the rejuvenation process. One need not pull 6 or 7 plates .....a plate is fine as long as the lift is comfortable. Over time, through gradual increases in resistance, the erectors will strengthen as will supporting muscles in the upper back and eventually, you might be able to pull 6 or 7 plates without a problem. I guess this should be characterized as Hogg's method...hell, there was a period of time when I couldnt even bent row 95# or squat because of sciatic pain. Today, I do not have those problems. I think that often, people approach deadlifts which too much zeal and load the bar up too heavy. Further, if you find that a certain style of deadlifting, such as romanian, is comfortable and sumo or traditional is not, then just do romanian. Perhaps you find that picking the barbell off the floor is uncomfortable but that you can pull from your up near your knee cap....then use the rack. The key here, at least what I have found, is that no lift should be uncomfortable, it should be smooth and should not cause pain. If you find that you can perform a given lift light but when you load up the bar, it causes pain or discomfort, then dont load up the bar since there is obviously something wrong - a strength imbalance most likely. Stay light, you might feel like an idiot deadlifting a plate but what you feel like is not the issue, the issue is developing strength.
That is a non-medical perspective...moreso common sense than anything else...but obviously if your doctor tells you not to do something, then go with his advice rather than mine.
