Midback pain is a common complaint. It can stem from lifestyle and postural habits, injury or trauma, or from sitting or sleeping on surfaces that do not adequately support the mid-back. Determine through your intake and questions if this is a repeat/chronic problem or if this is some kind of acute incident that's usually not a problem.
Cupping first
My first step when treating back pain of any variety is to cup the affected area using either sliding cupping or static cupping to open the channels and let Qi and Blood flow through the affected area more easily.
Be sure to let your patient know that this can leave purple bruises. Tell them what to expect and about aftercare for the rest of the 24 hours after treatment.
Acupuncture options
The sides here are not the important show. Needle them bilaterally if you'd like, one sided if you prefer.