Nerve and Back Pain: Myths, Facts and When Surgery Makes Sense
Misinformation can create fear or delay care. At CHRISTUS Health, we’re here to make things clear so you can make confident decisions about your health.
The Truth About the Pain in Your Back
Back pain is common, and it’s not always a spine problem. Muscle strain, posture, stress, and arthritis can all play a role. We start with a careful exam and a plan designed around your life.
Knowledge Check
True or False: For most people with new, low back pain that doesn't show red-flag symptoms, the best first step is targeted physical therapy and self-care.
Reveal Answer
Answer: True.
Most people improve with movement, physical therapy, and self-care; imaging or surgery is reserved for specific situations.
Answers About Your Back Pain
Fact: Surgery is not the first step for most back pain. Most people improve with conservative care—physical therapy, medications, activity changes, and sometimes injections. Surgery is considered when red‑flag symptoms are present or when conservative treatments haven’t helped.
Fact: Back pain can stem from muscle strain, poor posture, or stress. It’s not always caused by the spine.
Fact: A multimodal plan, anti‑inflammatory meds (when safe), nerve‑targeting meds, physical therapy, and occasionally injections, usually beats opioids.
If opioids are recommended in your treatment plan and you or your family has a history of opioid use disorders, talk to your doctor. There are other treatment options.
The Truth About Spine Surgery
When non-invasive care isn’t enough, or when back pain threatens nerve function, minimally invasive surgery may be the right next step. Our goal: relieve pressure on the nerve, protect function, and get you back to what you love.
Knowledge Check
True or False: Most minimally invasive spine surgeries require an overnight stay.
Reveal Answer
Answer: False.
Many are same‑day procedures because they are “minimally invasive.” Small openings and specialized tools can move muscles aside instead of cutting through them, often less pain and faster recovery.
Spine Surgery Myths and Truths
Fact: Many minimally invasive procedures are outpatient, meaning patients go home the same day.
Fact: When appropriate, surgeons use minimally invasive approaches, small openings and specialized tools for less muscle disruption and a quicker recovery.
Fact: Many complex conditions, such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spondylolisthesis, and some deformities, can be addressed with minimally invasive approaches that use small openings and specialized tools.
These techniques aim to relieve pressure on nerves and stabilize when needed while sparing healthy muscle. For the right patient, that can mean less pain after surgery and a quicker return to activity. Your surgeon will recommend the safest, most effective approach for your situation.
Fact: Surgery is usually a last resort. Before it’s considered, your physician may recommend physical therapy, anti-inflammatory or nerve-targeting medications (as appropriate), and image-guided injections.
Understanding Nerve Pain
Nerve pain in the back can feel sharp, burning, tingling, or like “electric shocks.” It often travels from your back into the hip, leg, or foot. At CHRISTUS Health, we focus on finding the source of the irritation and creating a plan that protects nerve function and gets you moving again.
Knowledge Check
True or False: Nerve pain often feels sharp, burning, or electric and can travel from the back into the leg or foot.
Reveal Answer
Answer: True.
Those traveling, “electric” symptoms are consistent with nerve irritation. Your clinician will confirm the cause with an exam.
Nerve Pain Myths and Truths
Fact: Many causes are treatable and often improve over weeks with the right plan—gentle movement and physical therapy to ease pressure on the nerve, anti‑inflammatory or nerve‑targeting medications when appropriate, and image‑guided injections (e.g., epidural, facet) when needed. Your provider can also help with posture, activity pacing, and sleep positioning to protect nerve function and support recovery.
Fact: Most people improve with non-invasive care, which includes physical therapy, targeted medications, activity and posture changes, and image‑guided injections. Surgery is considered only when symptoms persist or nerve function is at risk.
Fact: Nerve symptoms often fluctuate with position, activity, and inflammation. Your care plan adapts as you recover.
Red-Flag Symptoms
Red-flag symptoms are warning signs that low back pain may be caused by something more serious. These include symptoms such as:
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- weakness or numbness in the legs
- unexplained weight loss
- fever
- severe or worsening pain
- or a history of cancer.
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
Why Choose CHRISTUS For Back and Nerve Pain
- The right care, first. We start with conservative care—targeted physical therapy, activity and posture changes, and appropriate medications. Procedures are considered when they’re the safer, more effective choice.
- One connected team. Neurologists, physical medicine doctors, pain specialists, physical therapists, and fellowship-trained spine surgeons collaborate on your plan so you can be confident in your treatment plan.
- Minimally invasive expertise. When surgery makes sense, many patients qualify for muscle-sparing, small-opening approaches that can mean less pain after surgery and a quicker return to daily life.
- Whole-person healing. Care that sees the full picture—your goals, work, family, faith, and well-being—with rehab support to keep you moving.
- Care close to home. Multiple locations and virtual visits for select appointments make it easier to start, and stick with, your plan.
Not sure where to begin?
Start with our quick nerve-pain self-check, or explore CHRISTUS Neurosciences.
This self-check is educational and not a diagnosis. If you have red-flag symptoms, seek urgent care.
More about CHRISTUS Health
CHRISTUS Health Neurosciences Care
Is Your Nerve Pain a Sign of Something More?
Neurology and Neurosurgery: Two Specialties, One Mission
Understanding Unruptured Brain Aneurysms