The outlook for acute back pain is very good. Many times it will leave as quickly as it came.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, may come on either quickly or slowly, and it lingers a long time. Outlook varies greatly for chronic pain, and depends on what conditions accompany it and what treatments are required.
For those patients who require surgery, the outcome is generally much more predictable in people with sciatica than in those with predominant low back pain.
What to expect if I have Back pain  (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The outlook for acute back pain is very good. Many times it will leave as quickly as it came.
Chronic pain, on the other hand, may come on either quickly or slowly, and it lingers a long time. Outlook varies greatly for chronic pain, and depends on what conditions accompany it and what treatments are required.
For those patients who require surgery, the outcome is generally much more predictable in people with sciatica than in those with predominant low back pain.