About 90% of the symptoms of low back problems, such as back pain and pain down the back of the leg, go away by themselves within 6 weeks, and 98% are gone within 1 year.¹ Most people with back pain do not start having any tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), unless they have had symptoms for at least 4 weeks. Surgery is not considered until after that. As you work through this tool, you will get an idea of whether surgery might help you if your symptoms have lasted longer than 4 weeks.