Reddit reviews The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief

Stim is more for triggering or growing new muscle. Myofascial release is sort of like massage but the theory behind it is different. It's about identifying trigger points (little knots) in muscle and fascia and releasing them, allowing the muscle/fascia to stretch back out and relax.

I'd seek out an expert to give it a shot, but you can also treat yourself. This book has been helpful for me with my back and neck:

http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572242507

It's non-invasive and at least worth a shot if you're on your way to surgery. Best of luck.

I'm just gonna leave this here. This book is amazing and will help you with pain relief, correcting imbalances, and releasing tight muscles. It's magic.

edit: also this foam roller is much better than the usual type. Very good for loosening up your T-spine.
http://store.tptherapy.com/The_Grid_Revolutionary_Foam_Roller_p/tpt-grd.htm

Also work your upper t-spine with 2 baseballs in a sock. It's good stuff.

edit: The trigger point workbook is fucking insane. My quads are slowly transforming from tight slabs into nice fibrous bunches of muscle. I have reversed acute tennis elbow (sharp pain on inside of elbow, due to triceps trigger point) before it had a chance to put me out for any period of time. You will have fun going through every spot of your body and being in complete pain but then finding relief. You will wonder in amazement how you let yourself get so tense.