that is interesting- my most severe back pain was also in the midst of a several month long opium addiction.....
that was 17+ years ago -i had one bad spell about 14 years ago but nowadays i stay in pretty good shape [altho i havent ridden the bicycle for 2 weeks now]. but i still lift, do my Ab crunches, do intense boatbuilding and gardening, and try to do those yoga based Sun Salutes every morning. it has really kept me pain free for years and years..