What Is Chronic Low Back Pain?

"My back has been hurting for months." If that sounds like you, you are not alone. Over 600 million people worldwide live with low back pain.

An important note: Have you been told — or told yourself — that chronic back pain is just "something you have to live with"? Large-scale research has shown that chronic low back pain can improve with the right approach. Speaking up about your pain is the first step toward getting better.

What You'll Learn

• What "chronic low back pain" actually means, and how it differs from acute back pain
• How common it is — globally and in different populations
• Why low back pain is so difficult to diagnose and treat
• What this site covers and how to navigate it