Small tip: try a lacrosse ball for rolling around on. That's what I use for pains in my lower back/hips and shoulders, and sometimes it's more effective to lean against a wall that to get all the way on the floor.
I've described fixing my back pain to people as needing to take my spine out, crack it like a whip, and then put it back. Sounds like you have a similar issue with needing that individual articulation.
He's been eating tourists & paying off the boat owner