I've had the same experience. About a year ago my wife and I joined a gym (again), and this time we stuck with it. One of the primary reasons we joined was to find some good back exercises to prevent us putting out our backs constantly (having 4 kids does this to you...).
I've made deadlifts my top priority, do them at least once per week without fail, and often do squats when time and energy permits. Instead of putting my back out and being crippled for a day at a time once every few months, I now live with a "positive" no pain, no gain ache in my whole body after frequent workouts, and I'm so much stronger than I was in general.
Highly recommend this approach -- just as OP said, be careful with the powerlifts and get a trainer to show you how to do them properly before you start. Injuries here can suck as much as putting your back out (or more).
I've made deadlifts my top priority, do them at least once per week without fail, and often do squats when time and energy permits. Instead of putting my back out and being crippled for a day at a time once every few months, I now live with a "positive" no pain, no gain ache in my whole body after frequent workouts, and I'm so much stronger than I was in general.
Highly recommend this approach -- just as OP said, be careful with the powerlifts and get a trainer to show you how to do them properly before you start. Injuries here can suck as much as putting your back out (or more).