Treating lower back aches by 'rethinking pain'
Key Points: New research on back pain encourages exercise, and the view that pain is a protective mechanism, not a measure of tissue damage
There are some exceptions where it's necessary, but too many people are having back surgery needlessly when the evidence of benefit is weak.
Scans, X-rays, cortisone injections and long-term opioid use are often unhelpful, experts say.