Yup. I feel your pain. One prolapsed disc which occasionally decides it wants to rub on my spinal cord, and one worn disc which means I get crepitus and can actually feel two of my vertebrae rubbing together.
I sold my heavy old cabs and bought the lightest ones I could afford and had to give up playing my 6 string which weights in at a whopping 14lbs.
I wear a back brace when loading and playing, but the biggest change is I bought myself one of those folding guitar stand chairs. It doesn't take up much more room than a normal guitar stand, and it means that I can sit down if the pain gets too bad, or preferably before.
It may not be very "rock n roll" but it means I get to keep playing.