The fact of the matter is that medical doctors aren't trained to deal intensively with the spine. In many cases, the prognosis for back pain from an MD is plenty of rest and a steady diet of pain killers. In other cases, the prognosis includes spinal surgery. The problem with the surgical path is that many causes of back pain are inoperable. There are only a few, severe afflictions - such as significant vertebral fractures - for which surgery is a viable option. Many orthopedic surgeons admit that a more conservative course of treatment is more effective.
There are several forms of alternative therapy options including acupuncture, electrotherapy, message, and stretching and flexibility regiments. These methods are reasonably effective at alleviating pain, but do nothing to correct the cause of the pain.
Chiropractic by definition focuses on eliminating the pain by correcting the cause of the ailment. More effective and often less expensive than the aforementioned treatments, Chiropractic is the substantiated remedy for back pain.