I am also a mild proponent of localized injections to the spine area (yes those same ones that permanently damaged some folks when the meds were contaminated) that mix anesthesia and steroids. They not only offer immediate relief and possible long term relief (reduced inflammation), but also a huge diagnostic value. If you inject at the L4-L5 area and the pain doesn't subside much, that might not be the problem area. After 7 or 8 of those injections with diminishing relief we tried injections to the facet joint areas. Boom. Pain gone. I have various levels of herniations L3 through S1 but those appear to cause very minor problems that respond to conservative treatments. The "severe" pain localized to the lower back was a facet problem all along. All those doctors who pointed to the MRI and insisted surgery was the only option -- were wrong. Several rhizotomy procedures later I am much better --and SO glad I kept researching and kept trying non surgery options.
I am more active now and occasionally aggravating those lesser problems, but much happier.