This may not help you very much, but the latest acupuncture news from the Guardian is good news for anyone with back pain in the UK.  The National Health Service (NHS), which is the publicly funded health care system, is expected to adopt new guidelines for treating low back pain this week.  Primary care doctors will be able to "recommend... up to nine sessions with an osteopath, chiropractor or physiotherapist who is trained in manipulation, or an acupuncturist."  How civilized!  Maybe it'll catch on and they'll recommend it for treating other common ailments too. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/may/24/back-pain-sufferers-acupuncture-nhs