In the past, physicians would habitually propose surgery to cure unrelieved back pain. Afterwards, people would need several weeks of bed rest and, if everything had gone smoothly, be fixed up and back to normal in just a short time - except if they weren't.

Experts agree that, historically, doctors have resorted to back surgery too quickly in most cases. Many people did not benefit from this surgery and some cases even became worse post-procedure. Surgery was certainly no silver bullet for back pain, that much was sure.

Now, research has shown that most back pain, even lower back pain, will resolve itself without surgery, given rest and time. In fact, for most back pain, all other options should be tried prior to scheduling surgery on the back. Less than one percent of all people ever actually need surgery for their back pain, though four out of every five people have back pain at some time in their life.

Normally, doctors propose surgery only in situations where other alternatives have been attempted and were unable to fix the problem, or if the back pain reappears. Surgery may be necessary if back pain causes the patient's daily routine to be negatively impacted.

An excellent approach to treating the spine and lower back is through physical therapy. A physical therapist can provide specialized exercises along with methods which include:

* Heat or cold therapies - to reduce inflammation, pain and muscle spasms

* Ultrasound - the use of sound waves can promote circulation and reduce muscle spasms, inflammation, and pain

* Massage

* Spinal traction

* Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) - uses a painless electrical currently on certain nerves to relieve pain and improve mobility of the back

*Water therapy

Many back pain sufferers experience relief from back pain through medication, either over the counter or prescription drugs. A number of these products are analgesics, such as aspirin, muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

Spinal injections can relieve pain and help the doctor determine the reason for the back pain. Two kinds are Facet Joint Injections and Epidural Steroid Injections. Spinal injections are not used alone, but are used along with physical therapy and exercise. They should always be recommended or prescribed by your doctor.

A chiropractor can also be helpful in your quest to ease your back pain. A chiropractor can manipulate, apply pressure, palpate and otherwise adjust vertebral alignment.

Other methods for dealing with back pain are considered alternative medicine. They include acupuncture, certain herbal medicines and biofeedback. If you use one of these therapies, be sure to have a reputable practitioner.