TMO pls send on my sympathy to your bruv - have had 'back issues' for years resulting in many nights lost sleep.
Had an orthopaedic consult here recently (x-rays the lot) and advised :-
''Ah no cartilage between the vertebrae (sad shaking of head on Doc's part when delivering this news) so no wonder it hurts you, probably osteoarthritis, got drugs for that though.......... Ah neck doesn't look too good either, major accident years ago perhaps (
many
) should bend this way and doesn't''
This consult was just before I left for daughters hen weekend and pole dancing - still did it though