Noninvasive treatments for back pain: Pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staffNonsurgical, noninvasive approaches are likely to be what you'll begin with. Low back pain often improves on its own over time or with the help of conservative approaches. People with acute low back pain generally experience substantial improvement in the first month after initially seeing their doctor. When it's time to decide on nonsurgical, conservative approaches, consider these points:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Conservative approaches are less invasive than surgery and don't require the recovery time that surgery does. | You may have to be patient. It may take a while for you to return to your desired level of activity at work and at leisure. |
| Conservative approaches allow your body's own natural healing process to work, which is what happens most of the time with back pain. | If you take pain medications, they may cause side effects. |
| You can try conservative approaches and always opt for a more-aggressive approach later. | Conservative approaches may require a change in habits, such as regular exercise to strengthen your back. |
| Other than your pain, your doctor may not have any physical findings on which to recommend surgery. | If your pain is severe, persistent and disabling, you may struggle with feelings to move to a more-aggressive approach. |
| Conservative approaches cost less than surgery. | |
| You avoid the risks of surgery. |
