I haven't been hanging out on the internet much so I'm late respond.
I have ongoing back issues and can perhaps offer some insight.
First of all, the back is a very dynamic thing. There are many different kinds of problems so one solution does not fit all. You see football players having back surgery and playing again 5 weeks later; it's always not that simple.
If physical therapy is suggested, then do it. But go to PT with an intelligent approach. You do not get well in PT. PT teaches you how to exercise or manage your back on your own. Learn how to take care of yourself.
Experiment. I carry a little pillow with me everywhere for a brace when I'm sitting. It's a rolled up towel wrapped with rubber bands. It is fairly hard and rigid and it works. For others, soft may be better.
I slept on the floor for four years. I eventually got a piece of plywood and put it in the bed because it's a pain having your bedding spread out in the living room. I put some blankets on it so it has a little bit of cushion and to not be on raw wood. I actually find it to be very comfortable and helpful but it takes getting used to. It's not a solution for everyone.
You can also ask for advice in PT on the best way to position your body for sleeping.
At work I take a break in the morning and another in the afternoon to go outside and walk. I walk perhaps a quarter mile to half mile, takes about 10-15 minutes. It really helps. I also try to walk for an hour each day. Even when it's 10 below. Exercise, in my case, really helps a lot.
I find I can't sit on my computer and play until 1:00 AM every night. I need to go to bed, get my rest, and exercise. If I do that regularly, I am pretty much close to normal. If I ever need surgery, the doctor says it would be the "butchering" kind so I'm trying. It really is hard to take an hour each day to go walking.
So... learn the best course of action from the doctor. Physical therapy should be used for education, not a cure. Listen to your body and figure out what works best for taking care of it.