Since many people have some degree of disk bulging orinstability without any pain or symptoms, these findings in themselves do notmandate surgery. Pain severity alone is not an indicator for surgery. Somepatients with the most severe pain cannot be helped by surgery, while otherswith only moderate pain but progressive loss of neurologic function arecandidates for early surgery. There are indications for doing spinal fusions,but also risk. The patient should discuss this in detail with the surgeon ifthis course is recommended.
Most back pain is related to spasms of the back muscles.
Usually rest and avoiding activity that increases the pain is the bestinitial treatment. Exercises should not be the initial form of treatment sincethis might cause further injury and increase the muscle spasm. Ifthe pain is not controlled by these means, you should seek see a physicianbefore taking stronger pain medication or muscle relaxants. Inherited factors, such as body build, strength of tissues, presence orabsence of spine, hip or knee deformities, all play an important role in who islikely to develop back pain. There are, however, factors we can control toreduce potential problems with the back.