If I was in your position I would stop both/either deads and squats until the injured/sparked area has recovered. The lower back gets a fair workout during squats (in fact it's often the region that fails/gives first, depending on your proportions). There are other exercises you can use for your legs that don't place that stress on the lower back - leg press, leg extn, leg curl, and IMO it isn't worth risking more permanent damage/pain to the lower back.