Hello, I am only 17 and I have been experiencing similar back pain issues as you. Mine is in my mid to upper back as well, sometimes it varies, and hurts on one side of my back more than the other. And sometimes just out of nowhere I will have these sudden and short but intetnse spasms through my back, and feels as if something is being pinched, I'm assuming that is a pinched nerve. But I have noticed to have pain when I do certain things. It all started when I begun my first job. I was lifting some pretty heavy items that I could barely lift (im guessing what caused that problem), and a few months into the job I started having really intense back pain, so bad that I had to quit. I to noticed that it seemed to be almost unbearable when I was up standing in a still position. I found it odd that it rarely bothered me that much when I was up walking around, or out for a walk, but when I am doing things that are in a fixed position for even 10 minutes, such as doing the dishes, my back starts to get numb, and I have this unbearable pain. I went to a chiropractor, hoping that they could solve my problem, with adjustments, and changing my lifestlye by doing back exercises, and eating healthier, but all of it didnt even seem to help any amount. I was doing all of this for about 2 months, but without any improvements, I stopped going to the chiropractor. I have also heard rumors that chiropractors can mess your back up even more. I'm not really for sure about that, but I need to be getting bad to work soon, and I would appreachiate it if you would let me know if you have any sucess with anything, or find out any information (since we are in the same boat and all) because I havent, and I fear that the back pain will intensify once again when I start back to work.
best of luck
please and thanks

Both of you need to see a spine surgeon for evaluation and tests to determine if you are having any kind of spinal issues going on.

Numbness and tingling are signs of nerve compression and there are various conservative treatments that can be done to alleviate the nerve compression that do not involve surgery of any kind.

But, without a diagnosis, treatment can't begin.

No doubt an MRI would be ordered to see what is going on with your spine, if anything.

Muscle pain should not last 2 months, unless your exercise regimen in continuing to keep the muscle strain inflamed, OR it is not a muscle, but rather a disc problem that was caused by something you did at work.

Only and MRI will be able to tell that.

Your doctor is quite wrong in saying that nothing can be done for a pinched nerve.

A good regimen of physical therapy can relieve the pain and allow the pressure to be removed from the nerve. If necessary, a cortisone injection can help relieve the pain and allow healing to occur.

But, it all depends on what is wrong and only a spine surgeon can give you that diagnosis.

It is true that many chiropractors can create further havoc with the spine, but there are some good ones out there as well.

My personal feeling is to stay as far away from them as possible. I've seen far to many people and know far to many people that have had their spinal problems made seriously worse by chiropractors.

Unless a spine surgeon directly told me to use a particular chiropractor, you would never get me near one.

You need to see a spinal surgeon for diagnosis, either an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in spines only or a neurosurgeon that specializes in spines.

Good luck

Fran