Ideas for pain relief?

I have 3 herniated discs in my thoracic spine and 2 in my lumbar spine (there's more to each disc like one is ruptured and one is chronic according to the radiologist report).  I have really bad back pain.  I was a gymnast and cheerleader in high school and got into a bad car wreck in 06.  Currently, I have a TENS unit, an inversion table, and a jacuzzi when I'm at my mom's which is 3 hours away.  The meds I take are 800mg ibuprophen 3-4xday, 2 Aleve once a day, tramadol, and OxyIR.  

I want to get acupuncture & find a chiro.  Any one have experience with these?  I'm very new to alternative therapies.  I really want to get into acupuncture but the guy I went to last week, in my opinion, did not have the best attitude and I'm not comfortable going back.

How do I find a good chiro?

Are there other means of pain relief that other people have found?

[Punkinhead75]

I use ice, ibuprofen, exercise(see a doctor about this first), and stretching.  I also have an inversion table but I don't go past 45 degrees.

I see a chiro regularly and I've gotten a lot of relief.  Finding a good one is the key.  I 've also tried accupuncture which did help.  I went three times a week for 3 weeks and then once a week for acouple weeks and then stopped.  I couldn't afford it after that.  It did help but didn't seem to have any lasting effect.  The best way I've found to get a new doctor is word of mouth.  Who do friends, family, coworkers recommend?  Good luck!!

[watto1]

Swimming is by far the most effective natural pain relief for my mid back problems. The cheapest too.

IMO there's limits to how much chiros, acupuncture, chinese doctors, heat therapy etc can help in this area. For me, the feeling after swimming is instant pain relief like you have just taken meds.

Every day hamstring stretching & inversion table when needed before bed work great for my lower back.

I haven't taken any meds for many months and was seriously tempted a just few days ago but took about 6-7 fish oil capsules instead. If you believe the labels, fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties.

I'm a big advocate of avoiding meds, its really only swimming that has made that realistically possible. Give it a go for a month, you have nothing to lose. Good luck