Thanks for sharing what happened, nacona. It helped me a lot to hear it. Recovery is a struggle at the moment.
If your back is going to be an ongoing issue, you really need to talk to someone about pain management. Meds are part of the answer but there are other things you can do to manage pain. Taking lower doses of less addictive meds on a regular schedule can be more effective than taking strong meds when the pain is particularly acute.