Failed AFFS mod. Backlight damaged

[talcite]

So as the topic says, I messed up the AFFS mod. I'm fairly certain I used too much force to remove the digitizer panel. The result? A backlight that only stays illuminated for about 5 seconds. I've already tested with another inverter board, and confirmed it's the panel (unless the cable could be the culprit?)

At this point, I'm unsure whether I should try for a backlight replacement, or just buy another panel with the digitizer removed this time.

Has anyone tried a backlight replacement before? Is the choice of CCFL really important (beyond fitting) and is there a high chance the backlight will be uneven afterwards?