Lower back pain (LBP) is, unfortunately, incredibly common, with about 80% of adults dealing with it.[1] For many, it’s more than just a short-lived backache. Chronic lower back pain—pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks—can interfere with everything from work and sleep to simply bending over to tie your shoes.[2]
Back surgery comes with a long recovery, potential complications and no guarantee of long-term relief. Thankfully, surgery is rarely the first or only option.
Common Culprits of Chronic Back Pain
Today’s pain care offers numerous non-surgical alternatives that target lower back pain at its source, promoting long-term healing and relief. Back pain can be caused by nerve compression, arthritis, inflammation, injury, or a pulled muscle (such as when someone says they “threw their back out”).
According to Spine Health, these are some of the most common LBP causes:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lumbar herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica or a pinched nerve
- Lower back muscle strain or sprain
- Facet joint dysfunction
- Vertebrogenic pain
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
A Whole-Body Approach to Treating Back Pain
Don’t feel rushed into choosing surgery. It’s not the only option. Your lower back pain can be effectively managed through a comprehensive, whole-body approach. Rather than just numbing your pain, pain management addresses the root cause of your discomfort. Depending on your diagnosis and personal needs, your treatment plan may include:
- Medication (often short-term)
- Physical therapy
- Inflammation-reducing injections
- Nerve stimulation therapies
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Lifestyle changes
This balanced approach helps avoid over-reliance on medications, especially opioids, which have known risks. It also promotes lasting relief by strengthening the body and calming the nervous system.[3]
Top Interventional Pain Management Options
Interventional pain management focuses on precise, minimally invasive procedures to reduce nerve irritation, decrease inflammation, and enhance mobility without the need for open surgery. While medication may be part of the plan, the goal is often to reduce or eliminate it over time.
Injection-Based Treatments
These targeted injections are designed to relieve pain and inflammation right at the source:
- Lumbar epidural steroid injections: Used for lower back and leg pain associated with sciatica and herniated discs.
- Caudal epidural steroid injections: Treats inflammation in the lower spine (sciatica, herniated discs and spinal stenosis)
- Lumbar sympathetic block: Helps confirm and relieve LBP
- Facet joint injections: Helps confirm and ease pain in the spine’s small joints.
- Medial branch blocks: Used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for facet joint pain.
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections: Treats pain near the base of the spine.
These procedures often provide quick relief and can be repeated or used in combination with other therapies.[4]
Minimally Invasive Procedures & Neuromodulation
These advanced techniques and devices can offer long-term relief when conservative treatments haven’t worked and are often performed on an outpatient basis.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or radiofrequency neurotomy: Uses heat energy from radio waves to “turn off” nerves sending pain signals.
- Spinal cord stimulation (SCS): A small device implanted near the spine to disrupt pain signals.
- Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD): Treats spinal stenosis without large incisions.
- Regenerative treatments: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid injections) stimulate your body’s natural healing processes.
Medication-Free Treatments & Lifestyle Modifications
While injections and procedures play a big role, long-term relief is often found in combination with non-drug therapies:
Physical therapy: Builds strength and improves posture and mobility.
- Aquatic therapy: Low-impact exercise that’s gentle on joints.
- At-home exercises: Helps maintain core strength and flexibility.
- Nutritional support: An anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce flare-ups.
- Weight loss and ergonomic changes: Reduce pressure on the spine.
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, and chiropractic care, have been shown to benefit individuals by reducing pain and improving function.[5; 6]
Mind-body therapies, including CBT, mindfulness, and guided relaxation, are also important, particularly for chronic pain that affects your mood, sleep, or stress levels.
Should I Wear a Back Brace?
Back braces can offer temporary support and relief during flare-ups or after certain procedures. While not a long-term solution, they can help you move more comfortably and safely while your body heals.
Relieving Your Lower Back Pain Without Surgery
You don’t have to live with lower back pain or jump straight to surgery. From targeted injections to lifestyle changes, numerous effective, non-surgical tools can help you return to the life you love.
Ready to start your pain management journey? A pain specialist can help create a personalized plan tailored to your body, lifestyle, and goals. By understanding your options and addressing the root causes of your pain, you can regain mobility and get back to living without going under the knife.
Resources:
- Back pain – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. Published 2018. Accessed June 23, 2025. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369911
- Peloza J. Causes of Lower Back Pain. Spine-health [Internet]. Updated July 24, 2024. Accessed June 23, 2025. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/causes-lower-back-pain
- 7 Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery. Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Accessed June 23, 2025. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/back-pain/7-ways-to-treat-chronic-back-pain-without-surgery
- Peloza J. Non-Surgical Treatments for Lower Back Pain. Spine-health [Internet]. Accessed June 23, 2025. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/non-surgical-treatments-lower-back-pain
- Chou R, Deyo R, Friedly J, et al. Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review for an American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline. Annals of Internal Medicine [Internet]. 2017;166(7):493. doi:https://doi.org/10.7326/m16-2459. Accessed June 23, 2025. Available from: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M16-2459#
- Grundy K. What’s the Best Type of Massage for Lower Back Pain? Good Rx [Internet]. Published July 19, 2024. Accessed June 23, 2025. Available from: https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/musculoskeletal/best-massage-for-lower-back-pain
