Chronic back pain at a glance
Lasting beyond 12 weeks
Chronic typically means symptoms persisting for 3 months or longer.
Often a sensitivity issue
The nervous system can stay on high alert, making pain easier to trigger and harder to settle.
Know red flags
A small subset of symptoms need urgent medical assessment.
This page is educational. If you are worried, your symptoms are changing quickly, or you feel unsafe, seek personalised medical advice.
What is chronic back pain?
Chronic back pain is back pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks. It may be constant or come in waves. Many people with chronic back pain have periods that feel better and periods that flare. That variability is one clue that sensitivity and protection patterns can play a major role.
Why can chronic back pain persist?
It is rarely just “wear and tear”
Discs, joints, and tissues naturally change with age. Many people have disc bulges or degeneration on scans without pain. That does not mean structure never matters; it means scans often do not explain the full story.
What matters most is function, confidence, and whether the system can switch out of protection mode.
The nervous system can stay sensitised
Over time, pain can train the brain to predict danger with certain movements, postures, or situations. Muscles may tighten, sleep may degrade, stress may rise, and the body can become more reactive.
Learn more in prediction, danger and safety and central sensitisation explained.
What helps with chronic back pain?
A plan that retrains safety
- Gradual movement and loading: rebuild trust in the back through steady progression.
- Pacing: reduce flare cycles by smoothing peaks and troughs.
- Reduce threat signals: worry, fear, and constant checking can amplify pain.
- Work with the mind-body loop: stress, emotions, and uncertainty can keep the system activated.
If scans are “normal” but pain persists
This is common. Persistent pain can be driven by protective patterns and sensitisation even when tests do not show a clear cause. Many people improve by addressing nervous system sensitivity alongside sensible physical rehab and medical care.
Explore science and myths and self-guided tools and practices.
When should I worry?
Seek urgent medical assessment if back pain occurs alongside any of the following:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or inability to pass urine
- Numbness around the groin or inner thighs (saddle area)
- Progressive leg weakness, foot drop, or worsening difficulty walking
- Severe pain after significant trauma
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or feeling systemically unwell
- History of cancer with new, unexplained back pain
If you are unsure, it is reasonable to speak with a clinician. This page is educational and does not replace personalised medical advice.
Common questions about chronic back pain
How does chronic back pain feel?
It can feel aching, burning, stiff, sharp, or “on edge”. Many people notice it changes with stress, sleep, load, and attention. That variability is common in sensitised pain patterns.
What will a doctor do for chronic back pain?
They may screen for red flags, assess movement and nerve function, consider imaging if appropriate, and recommend rehab, pain management, and support for sleep and stress. If symptoms have persisted, a combined physical and nervous system approach often helps most.
What should I do next if I feel stuck?
Aim for a plan that addresses both the body and the nervous system: gradual movement, reduced threat responses, better sleep support, and the right clinical guidance. Neurowaze can help you find a practitioner who matches your situation.
Clinical note
“Chronic back pain” describes duration, not one diagnosis. Clinical labels vary (for example, non-specific low back pain, persistent spinal pain syndrome, lumbar radicular pain). This page is educational and does not diagnose or replace personalised medical advice.