Back Pain Treatments Often Not Need (and Don't Work Anyway)

Americans are estimated to spend about $86 billion per year trying to treat their back pain, including MRIs, pain-killers, spinal injections, acupuncture, natural "cures," and a variety of machines and back pain-relief gadgets. Complicated and expensive back operations are becoming more and more common, even though only a small percentage of people with back problems are good candidates for surgery.

Yet the evidence is becoming clear: most pack pain treatments are not necessary... and don't even work anyway. The vast majority of back problems heal by themselves within just a few weeks. In fact, time alone may be the best back pain treatment of all!

Certain types of exercise can also help significantly, according to some neck and back pain experts. Rehabilitation exercise programs attempt to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and often work very, very well.

Other treatments that involve stretching the spine, such as inversion therapy, may also be effective in some cases.

Learn some mo': Pain in the back widely over-treated