New and already discouraged.

Hi all, My beau bought me a beautiful XPERT X-pole for my birthday, we excitedly set it up about 4 days ago and now, after two attempts at the strength lessons, I am ready to sell it ;_; I herniated two discs in my lower back about a year and a half ago. Since then, I've become a stiff, inflexible, frumpy hot mess. I've longed for a pole for as long as I could remember. I finally have one and now the whole experience just sucks. I've been trying for a good two years to master the squat. Even after having an instructor at a Crossfit gym show me how to squat, I still can't get the hang of it. My herniated discs make the process even more awful. I must have done 50 squats 2 nights ago - I didn't feel a thing in my rear or legs. This evening I tried the pole hold and that was a complete disaster. I was able to hold onto the pole, but couldn't do anything beyond stand on my tippy-toes. The only way I was able to get my feet off the ground was if I jumped and that did nothing for my arms either. I'm not expecting to be doing inversions by next week, but I would at least like to be able to execute the moves so that I can begin the process of improving my over-all body strength. At this point, I feel like I'm wasting my time because the moves I am performing are having zero affect on my body. I am very, very, very inflexible due to my stupid back. I have extremely strong legs but no strength in my arms. I don't even know if I should be attempting the strength lessons at this point with such poor flexbility. I'm extremely disappointed and discouraged. Anyone else been in my shoes? ;_;