Look for a touring type drop bar bike with the handlebars at saddle height. The drops will still be available for getting lower, at least for 30-60 seconds at a time in stiff headwinds, etc., as your back conditioning improves.

I've had back and neck problems since a 2001 car wreck busted up six vertebrae, with permanent C2 damage. After two years of conditioning on hybrids since 2015, I got my first road bike in years back in June. Took a lot of additional conditioning to handle it. And I still experience bouts of severe neck pain when I need to take a few days or a week or so off the road bike and stick with the flat bar hybrid.

My road bike is an older racing/tri bike, not a comfortable touring frame. Probably a mistake. Even with the stem at maximum safe extension the bar is still 2"-3" below saddle height. A longer stem will help. So will a different handlebar with brifters and better hoods. No reaching for downtube shifters. More comfortable than old style aero hoods. But I'd be better off with a more relaxed drop bar bike.