Are surgical therapies the best treatment for patients with chronic lumbosacral radiculopathies?

According to the National Institutes of Health (2015), 8 out of 10 Americans will be affected with back pain and spent at least $50 billion each year on low back pain treatments and therapies. Low back pain is a common reason for patient office visits with some studies stating that nearly 20 million people go to the doctor for acute and chronic low back pain.

Lumbosacral radiculopathies are a common causation to low back pain that causes moderate to severe pain and loss of function. What are some of the causes to lumbosacral radiculopathies? Research the various treatment options for lumbosacral radiculopathies, including surgical. Are surgical therapies the best treatment for patients with chronic lumbosacral radiculopathies? Why or why not? Is there a most effective treatment protocol for lumbosacral radiculopathies?