Back pain can range from a dull constant ache to a sudden very sharp pain or back muscle pain that will make it difficult for you to move around. It can start up immediately after you fall or try to lift something that is too heavy for you or it can slowly get worse.

If you're having back pain, whether upper back pain, mid back or lower back pain, lumbar spasms, sciatica or spine discomfort and it has become chronic, you may be thinking that your best option is back surgery. Chronic means usually more than three months of pain. Acute would be less than three months

The biggest question for your doctor will be should he operate or not! Statistics show that of the 65% to 70% of back pain patients who undergo surgery only 50% show improvement.

There are dozens of different types of back surgery. One reason your doctor or back surgeon may be reluctant is he may not always be able to find the source of your pain or know the cause, even knowing the symptoms you're having, in order to make a diagnosis.

Secondly doctors today are encouraging patients to find other means of relieving their pain since so many back surgeries are not successful. In many cases, there is more pain or the same pain. Sometimes back pain patients have to go in for more surgery, sometimes to correct the previous surgery.

As you can see, doctors are becoming more reluctant to operate on patients with back pain and want them to seek other back pain treatment options. It doesn't matter if it's lumbar or lower back pain or not. Many doctors would rather have their patients build up the muscles that support the spine as one option.

If you have a ruptured, herniated, bulging, degenerative or damaged disc you may not even know it. Some damaged discs may not show any pain.

Slipped disc is an incorrect term. There is no such thing as a slipped disc. It's often referred to as slipped when it's really a ruptured disc. Discs can't slip.

For back pain, doctors say you may even get better after treating it with rest, ice, exercise and other treatment and therapy options.

If you have acute back pain that lasts more than 72 hours though, you should see your pain doctor. If there is a nerve injury involved, that may be corrected without surgery too. If you can, try to avoid prescription pain medications or pain relievers, which have their own risks and side effects, and focus on natural treatments.

So if you're experiencing back pain or lower back pain now talk to your doctor about how to treat it and try non-surgical treatments for pain control before you even think about surgical solutions. They may not work. Controlling pain through pain management clinics may also be an option if you're having severe pain. There are many other natural and little-known methods for treating back pain successfully too.