Back pain- who do you go to?

I go to my yoga teacher, class and daily mat.
Serious answer.

For me I've found that massage has made a huge difference in my back pain. Before choosing a therapist I would discuss what their specialties are, you may find that a sport massage or orthopedic massage therapist would be able to help pinpoint your issue. Deep work would probably also be beneficial for you. Swedish massage, although it feels good, won't target the issue that you're describing so make sure that they understand that you're looking for more targeted work, rather than a general relaxation massage.

For your issue in particular, you may find a combination of chiropractic work and massage may help alleviate the issue. For me personally, I would make sure that they take xrays and know exactly what's going on with my discs and spine before I would let them start adjusting. You may be out of alignment.

I also find yoga has made a HUGE difference in my pain and in my running. Going consistently along with massage has made my back pain almost disappear completely.

The above suggestions for self care are also really good advice and can help you in the long run. Good luck!

Chiropractors are specialists of the spine, I recommend seeing a chiropractor.

Have you considered a Cranial Oesteopath??
Google what they do as I just won't be able to do it justice.

We actually first heard of one when in a last ditch attempt for one of our horses that had become unrideable on the left rein.
We had tried everything with the vet, nerve blocking, magnetic therapy, physio, you name it we tried it, this was the last thing we were trying before the horse was written off.
She came out worked on the horse and asked if it had had an impact to it's shoulder at any time, months prior the horse had been in a collision with another horse in the arena at a canter (riders errors of not paying attention and neither horse took evasive action), it was a couple of months after this that the problems first arose, the horse would rear if you asked for canter on the left rein, then progressed to anything on the left rein.
After several treatments to horse was back to normal, this is probably the only reason I believe in it as the horse can't get the 'placebo effect' from reading up on what the cranial oesteopath does.

I used to have problems with my shoulder/back after a car accident and that's how I got sorted.

Worth a try if nothing else works, mine took me without a referral from the doctor (and also referred my mum for a MRI scan because of issues with her shoulder)

I fractured L3 L4 and L5 in 2010, rods were inserted to stabilise and these were removed in 2012. I now have one shortened disc, one shortened vertebrae and an additional slight curve in my lumbar spine

Please dont take any advice from strangers - my consultant's final advice to me in 2013 was to be 'back aware'. I attended hospital physiotherapists and when I felt I needed to progress more I attended a private physio in 2010 and again in 2012.

I now use a selection of stretches and exercises that both these physios prescribed as I healed and my back muscles regained some strength.

Go to a physio and if you're not happy with the level of exercises they give you change physio. I was lucky because my hospital physio sessions were free of charge, had to pester the hospital to get them but after 6 months, I felt they were not strenuous enough but I still use some of them to warm up.

Have you considered a Cranial Oesteopath??

Is that the same as an osteomyologist?

No I would expect a cranial oesteopath to be a registered practioner, Osteomyologist tend to be oestepaths or chiropracters that have been refused to be regulated by the general oesteopathic council or the general chiropractic council (either for politcal or philosophical reasons)
This is a google search description of it-
What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head.
It is a gentle yet extremely effective approach and may be used in a wide range of conditions for people of all ages, from birth to old age.
Osteopaths may have different specialities including sports injuries, paediatrics, and visceral osteopathy (treating the internal organs of the body). Cranial osteopathy embraces all of these.

It's recommended for babies as being born is one of the most stressful things your body can go through.

The one that treated our animals also treated us, she treated my friends daughter who suffered from chronic back pain, but was brushed off by the doctors because she was only 23 years old, after a treatment (and taking medical history) she asked my friends daughter if she was born with the cord round her neck (her dad didn't know as he was in the army and not there at the birth), when she asked her mum it turned out she had been born with the cord round her neck which had caused a type of compression which was resulting in the sore back, sorted that and her back has been (to my knowledge) fine since.

It's worth a google search and a bit of research, but as I said I would expect them to be registered.

Have you considered a Cranial Oesteopath??

Is that the same as an osteomyologist?

No I would expect a cranial oesteopath to be a registered practioner, Osteomyologist tend to be oestepaths or chiropracters that have been refused to be regulated by the general oesteopathic council or the general chiropractic council (either for politcal or philosophical reasons)
This is a google search description of it-
What is Cranial Osteopathy?
Cranial osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head.
It is a gentle yet extremely effective approach and may be used in a wide range of conditions for people of all ages, from birth to old age.
Osteopaths may have different specialities including sports injuries, paediatrics, and visceral osteopathy (treating the internal organs of the body). Cranial osteopathy embraces all of these.

It's recommended for babies as being born is one of the most stressful things your body can go through.

The one that treated our animals also treated us, she treated my friends daughter who suffered from chronic back pain, but was brushed off by the doctors because she was only 23 years old, after a treatment (and taking medical history) she asked my friends daughter if she was born with the cord round her neck (her dad didn't know as he was in the army and not there at the birth), when she asked her mum it turned out she had been born with the cord round her neck which had caused a type of compression which was resulting in the sore back, sorted that and her back has been (to my knowledge) fine since.

It's worth a google search and a bit of research, but as I said I would expect them to be registered.

Interesting stuff, thanks!

Anyone but a chiroquacktor......they're under-qualified physiotherapists. Seeing your GP for a referral to a PT is a great idea (if he suggests a chiro change doctors)