I'm on this boat.
Not gonna quote everyone for everything but I've had my share of back problems. Scoliosis of the lower back since I was younger and ended up slipping 2 disks in my early 30's. That experience messed up my I.T. band in my thigh and sciatic so much that it ended up causing nerve damage in my shin (I have about a 3" section below my knee that's about 60% feel now).
Chiro helped get my hips aligned and that's about all it did (it feels good but at most, every 6 month thing that makes sure your gait isn't making your back worse).
I know it's a dumb thing but simple stretching helps a bunch. Getting a foam roller will help also. It's basically a big hard pool noodle that is meant to hurt the living ***** out of you...... but in a good way.
Lastly, the even dumberest, yes, dumberest thing, is hydrate. No matter what you do that's the one thing that needs to happen more than anything. Trust me. Going to a chiro and having them work you out when you are dehydrated is like asking them to hurt the living hell out you.
I was on the painkiller and gabapentin for a short time and complained to my doctor that the pain wasn't getting any better so naturally they just wanted to push me off and gave me a lifetime supply of it but told me it was a monthly dose. I quit taking that and started to do the other things I listed above and every now and then, when the pain comes to a point where I can't deal with it or take anymore advil/tylenol, I just take a quick hit off of a pen that I have stashed away. It's the only thing that give me relief within about 10 minutes.