A persistent ache in the lower back with occasional shooting pains down the legs and muscles so tight you can’t even stand up straight are some of the most common complaints I hear on a daily basis.  But despite being trained as a neurosurgeon I rarely have to operate on most people with these complaints.  Despite the fact that 65 million more Americans annually suffer from low back pain every year most DO NOT require surgery.

Approximately, 75 to 85 percent of all people will experience some form of back pain during their lifetime. Back pain is the second most frequently reported reason a doctor visit, the fifth most frequent cause of hospitalization and the third most frequent reason for surgery. Neurosurgeons, however, rarely operate on back or neck pain before a series of very specific steps are followed to ensure that if surgery is needed the outcome will be successful.

Learn more about conservative treatments for spine pain HERE