Back pain strikes most people at some point in their lives, but it‘s usually not serious and goes away with little to no treatment, says Adam Rufa, DPT, an assistant professor of physical therapy at Upstate. While back pain‘s causes and risk factors are complex and can vary from person to person, the people who deal with it best tend to maintain their physical activities and a positive attitude, Rufa says. He also discusses herniated disks, the use of MRI tests and factors including depression and anxiety.