Resurrecting this, since it shows some back story.
After I posted my last update, my battalion spent a ton of time in the field, I acquired a couple of bulging discs, got pneumonia a second time (but still completed a battalion hike), did a cross-country move, had a third kid, and started a new billet that requires almost constant travel (not so much since COVID. By March of last year, I couldn't even tie my shoes without serious pain. After seeing a chiropractor and doctor, and having spinal steroid injections and surgery recommended, I took a different path.
I came across this article
https://startingstrength.com/article/aches-and-pains, and it changed how I approached pain. Written by an MD who is also an experienced strength coach, I discovered how much of our perceptions of pain are often psychological/somatic. Armed with this information, I started squatting with an empty bar and doing rack pulls with an empty bar (and belt). Doing 3-5 high rep (10-15) sets at this weight every single day, then slowly adding weight back on the bar, while reducing volume cured my experience of pain in my back altogether. Hanging from a chin-up bar has also been helpful.
In the past year or so, I've not missed a single scheduled training session, even though I've "tweaked" my back on two different occasions. What would have sidelined me for weeks and been a major setback previously has now turned into a few days of focused rehab with the barbell, and typically surpassing the injury weight in less than a week.
Having said all of that, this week I pulled 345x5, and today squatted 300x5 for the first time. When I first started this thread, I was super pumped to deadlift 215, and a year ago, I was painfully trying to pick up an empty bar out of the rack. While I still wouldn't consider myself strong by any means, I went from a total weakling to at least above average strength.
On top of this, I've gotten my 68 year-old dad in the gym and under a barbell for the first time squatting 235 and pulling 260 for reps. It's brought us together in unanticipated ways, strengthening our relationship, while fighting the loss of muscle mass and strength that accompanies aging. He gets stronger and will hopefully stick around longer, I get stronger, and we both get closer as father and son.
It's been an awesome journey.