Because back pain is so individual, and exact diagnosis is so difficult, it follows that treatment too can never be a precise science. The most common treatments are physiotherapy and forms of manipulation such as osteopathy and chiropractic. There are also various 'complementary' or 'alternative' therapies, and you'll find details of those below. If you do decide to try one of these, it's always best to choose a registered practitioner. That way you can be certain the person is properly qualified.
Surgery is almost always a last resort.
Your GP is unlikely to recommend it unless you've already tried everything else. He or she knows the full state of your health, the effects of any medication you may be taking for other conditions, and is in the best possible position to advise you. A PMP will show you a simple multi-disciplinary approach to managing your back problem. The chartered society of physiotherapy can provide information and advice on the work of physiotherapists. Practitioners who have these initials will have completed a training course at one of the schools of physiotherapy attached to a hospital.