I wouldnt do it. I have also had back issues. Back surgery in 2005 after living with L3 & L4 herniated and getting worse for 20 years. GREAT relief after surgery. 2007 L5/S1 ruptured. I should have been working out after 2005 but didnt. After 2007 surgery I knew it was get in shape or be in a wheel chair soon. I choose the gym. You can gain a LOT naturally. Using something like sust can also give you a false sense of security and strength gains and you will hurt yourself again or worse.

If you can go without surgery then good. I had no choice. After 20 years I had gotten to were I could only walk or stand for 10 minutes max. After surgery on day one I could walk and stand over an hour. I just should have started walking and exercising more but didnt. The 2nd surgery I had no choice. I was paralyzed from the waste down for 10+ days until I had surgery and that fixed it 80% Working out has fixed it another 15% I will live with the 5% for now.

Go natural for at least the next year. I did and I am glad of it. I know I would have hurt myself. I did a lot of lunges with no weights at first, a lot of walking, toe raises and no weight squats. Then walking/running stairs and lunges with light weight and foreword into light weight lifting for almost a year. I lost about 60 lbs of fat in about 6 months by light exercise and changing my diet. I learned to eat 6x a day and the fat started melting away. I honestly got worried for a while I had something wrong I was loosing weight so fast. LOL