text: can someone help my back pain? i have a ruptured disc b/t l3 & l4. i have tried heat, ice, yoga, chiro b/f i knew it was ruptured, skelaxin, flexeril, ibuprofen, massage.  i'm really frustrated. i don't want to take narcs. what can i do? whats the best therapeutic massage? i have heard reiki? help!! in your position you may need therapeutic massage forever.  experiment, find a therapist you agree with and who you think about for at least 3 days after leaving their table.  then hire them. try 15 different therapists if you want, you may need what is called "maintenance massage" this is done generally by all therapists but specifically sports mt's.  don't go to a fu fu salon go to a sports clinic or doctors office that have certified mt's.  over about four weeks time with 2-4 massages a week, depending on the pain scale, you may have a significant improvement.