I have the same thing. Started from a back injury Oct 2010. I was 34. Since, I have made slow progress in certain moves in the gym. I can squat, but not too heavy. Anything over 315 and I hurt for days or more. Same with deads and bent over bb rows. I use a lot of machines now for legs and back.
Just the way it is. When I hurt my back I had to get wheeled into the ER in a wheelchair. Doc says there is no cure. Now I just go by feel. L1 & L2 are what I damaged and they are not going to get better. I also do a lot more core work before back or leg day now.
Best of luck. I am going to get an inversion table at some point too.
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