Is a chiropractor or acupuncturist best for lower back pain?

Dealer's choice: Whichever one you find useful is fine. Both can be helpful or neither may, depending on the severity of the injury.

Depends: You need to have the cause of the pain evaluated. Your orthopod can do this and provide recommendations such as rest, proper medications, referral to a physical therapist or to a massage therapist. Chiropractors do not offer cures; only chronic deep massage. Acupuncture can ease some pain that is resistant to conventional therapy.

Consider a DO: You might want to seek out an osteopathic physician (do) who uses osteopathic manipulation to treat low back pain. Not only can they use similar manipulative techniques as the chiropractor, they can also treat whatever medical problems you have, giving you a full-spectrum of care.