Although low back pain is very common, for those patients with axial low back pain without warning indicators, i.e., excluding serious conditions such as fractures, tumors, infections, and herniated discs, most patients will improve within a few weeks, and only 10% will become chronic. The management of acute low back pain generally requires only appropriate medication, a return visit to the doctor after a period of time to assess the recovery of the back pain, and to maintain some activity. Commonly used medications include pain medications, muscle relaxants, and anti-anxiety medications when necessary, and studies have found that these are much more effective when taken regularly as prescribed than when taken only when the pain is present. Patients should maintain a certain level of activity. Studies have found that bed rest does not accelerate the healing of low back pain, but rather increases muscle loss (5% per week of bed rest), bone loss (1% per week of bed rest), and increases feelings of disassociation and sadness. Therefore, it is best to stay in bed for no more than 2 days when low back pain is evident. Studies have found that lumbar back exercises are not very helpful for acute low back pain, but are beneficial for patients with chronic low back pain, so they should be maintained for a long time. For some special patients, local closed injection is needed. Very few patients with severe low back pain may require surgery.