Hey Slartibartfast, Hotcakes said “wine”, not Whine! Good advise for the rest of us, too.
Originally ice skating. The rule is, when you fall just let your body fall, don't jerk back. The same with dropping anything, sometimes trying to catch a falling object you do more damage than just letting it break. (this was actually a trading related analogy) But yes, you could pull your back by catching a falling kni... I mean cup.
After that almost every year I did something like tennis, basketball, even running up the stairs (not kidding) when I injured it annually. Once even in the ocean when jumping at the waves. That felt really silly.
But anyway, I don't complain, I actually don't take anything for pain and stretching takes care of it. By the afternoon I am all good and hiking uphill, it is usually the mornings that I feel a bit tender...
I had seven veretbrae damaged, four crushed to 75-85% in my upper back with only a sliver of bone holding my spine up on one side.
Maybe you could work on getting back to as good as possible, but probably you already did.
Last year I developed sciatica, and I never thought I would want my back pain back. Seriously, if I have a choice I take the back pain over the leg pain anyday. Interestingly it is an either/or thingy usually only one presents itself. Sciatica reacts to cold, during the summer it is pretty much gone.
But as I mentioned, PT and stretching keeps it managable and I am actually pretty active. For any kind of back problem swimming is the best or at least floating in water...

This thread seems to have taken a medical " my pain was worse than yours twist " !
Anyway I learned very fast, don't mention the back to save the peculiar reaction by some. Anyone who has had real chronic pain gets it, those who have not are fortunate but going there some day.Sorry about the pain that some of my posts caused.
But in reality, once you get older, not having pain is more important than seeing Italy. Also, no matter how well financially someone is, let's not forget that death can be around the corner anytime and you need a shit load luck too for a long and satisfying life. There is no guarantee that you have 40 years to do this and that.
I am going to share the memories of Hal Finney, the second person who ever mined bitcoin. Shortly there after he was diagnosed with ALS (prognosis is death in 2-5 years) and died 5 years later. While paralyzed by the disease, he was emotionally satisfied with his life. If nothing else, just read the last sentence of his...