My doctor suggested minimally invasive surgery for my back pain. Is it worth trying? —J.M.K., Brown Deer, Wis.

Only as a last resort. Minimally invasive decompression surgery uses smaller incisions than the standard operation, which involves slicing through the muscles and bones of the lower back to relieve pressure on nerves from slipped disks or other causes. But in a 2008 Consumer Reports survey of some 1,000 readers who underwent back surgery, nearly half said that recovery was longer and more painful than expected. And most back pain resolves on its own in about six weeks. When it doesn’t, acupuncture, chiropractic care, or exercise often help. So consider surgery only if other options have failed and you’ve received a second opinion.

Read more on what to consider when considering back surgery, and see our Treatment Ratings (subscribers only) for a comparison of 23 lower-back treatments, including spinal manipulation, massage, and drug therapies.