Oh dear, first of all, sending you so much strength, what you went through with your first sounds genuinely traumatic, and the fact that you're already thinking ahead and wanting to do better for yourself this time shows how strong you really are. A few of us in my mum circle have had C-sections with pre-existing back issues, and the recurring advice is to tell your anaesthetist and obstetrician about your spinal history well before delivery so they can plan your anaesthesia approach carefully, apparently this makes a real difference in how the spinal block is administered and what pain management they line up for you post-op. For confinement, one of my mum friends who also struggled with wound sensitivity said she found it helpful to ask her confinement lady to start with very gentle, non-invasive support first, things like warm herbal baths and dietary care, before slowly working up to any touch near the surgery area, only when she felt fully ready, so there was no pressure. On postnatal massage, some mums in our group love it for recovery, but a couple who had spinal complications said they waited longer than the usual two weeks and specifically asked for a therapist experienced with C-section and back injury clients, which helped them feel safer about the whole process. Do please loop in your own O&G specialist and maybe a physiotherapist early this time, they can tailor a recovery plan around your specific spinal situation in a way general advice really cannot.