Well now the weather has improved I have dumped the shoes (except for purposes of decorum on essential trips to the village) so maybe finally I can start getting my back back into shape. I'm taking it slowly again, 1000 paces on the gravel a day for a week or so which is only about 12 minutes so no hardship. It's amazing just how quickly the body adapts to barefooting and how slowly it adapts back to shoes again.
The snow is melting high up too so hopefully I can start hiking again soon. I can't wait, really this winter has footwise and backwise been a nightmare.