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You aren't alone!
I've wrecked myself a few times and wondered how kayaking would work, but I always managed to pull it off.
The first few trips are the hardest mentally.
Hell just starting each new season I'm a bit apprehensive just because it is usually 6 months or so since the last real fishing excursion.

I'd say go with a buddy that is ready to help out if things go sideways. Everyone can benefit from a little self rescue run through!

And don't be hard on yourself. These frikken meat vehicles we're born in get worn down, but after having paddled with a few guys with wicked injuries or back issues, where there's a will...
My badass instructor at CCK had a steel rod in her spine at 30, but still went on to paddle across the Bering Sea.

Hey Spiffy

That’s rough. For me, kayak safety is about being at home in the water. Maybe start by getting in the water in your PFD and immersion gear and just getting comfortable floating around first?

+1 to what KPD said.
I think your plan at Lake Sonoma is a good one.
A few hours spent just messing about in the water is always a good investment.

I probably don't have anything useful to add, maybe some obvious stuff,

First really glad you put that out there,

Second what did your doc and PT have to say about it?

Third you probably know there are things that you're just gonna have to do differently.  Look for lower impact methods to accomplish what you used to do with brute force so to speak.

About 20yrs ago I screwed up my back pretty good, I simply had a bulged (not ruptured disc),nothing like yours and I'm not trying to compare but some of the words from my PT stuck.  I think the thing that stuck the most was he said about 80% of guys like me would end up back where I started IF I didn't do the exercises and learn to do things differently. When I asked him specifically about kayaking and ab diving he pretty much said I don't see why not, but remember what I said. 

I realize what my PT said to me might be wholly different than advice you might get, my back after all was still pretty much intact.

Hope it all goes well.

definitely not a back injury, but after i crashed my pelvis to pieces i was super duper hesitant to do anything that put more than body weight on my pelvis.  All the PT and such, and it still hurt all the time.
My doc told me to make sure to ease into the fun part of the sports i liked (and to consider it a no fall zone for 6 months).

First time I was back on any water was in a boat. I could barely get my leg over the transom, and was sore for days afterward-- but damn it was fun.
First time i went in the water i went by myself to the brickyard. Took me forever, and a couple of rests, to wheel the boat to the water. i figured worst case i flip, i can back stroke in my pfd to where i can stand. F the yak.
I probably caught 2 dozen stripers before the sitting was too much.
That got my psyched to get out, and do whatever needed to be done to make it work....

I miss doing my solo adventures. When i do go out it is with company now a days. Referring to the ocean. Did some solo paddling at lake mcswain that built up some needed confidence and reacquaintance with my ride from the dark side.  . 

Take it slow and ease back into the sport.

definitely not a back injury, but after i crashed my pelvis to pieces i was super duper hesitant to do anything that put more than body weight on my pelvis.  All the PT and such, and it still hurt all the time.
My doc told me to make sure to ease into the fun part of the sports i liked (and to consider it a no fall zone for 6 months).

First time I was back on any water was in a boat. I could barely get my leg over the transom, and was sore for days afterward-- but damn it was fun.
First time i went in the water i went by myself to the brickyard. Took me forever, and a couple of rests, to wheel the boat to the water. i figured worst case i flip, i can back stroke in my pfd to where i can stand. F the yak.
I probably caught 2 dozen stripers before the sitting was too much.
That got my psyched to get out, and do whatever needed to be done to make it work....

Actually the first time back for me was when we went sturgeon fishing. I`m glad went because I caught a couple waves on the chop and came down on my ass pretty good. It actually gave me some confidence after a  deep breath LOL

Thanks for writing about your injury, a person never really knows what others have experienced.

We'll have to get out again once the covid thing eases.

You’ve probably already considered this, and I have no experience w/ this technique but would a self-rescue ladder help? There are ones you can buy and DIY Options too. YouTube videos demonstrate their utility, but again, no experience for me in practice.

Example
http://kayakselfrescueladder.com/Home_Page.html