What Is Chronic Low Back Pain?
There Is Good News
Research into chronic low back pain has advanced considerably over the past two decades.
Exercise therapy works
A major review of clinical trials found, with high certainty, that exercise therapy is effective for chronic low back pain.
Even more importantly:
When exercises were matched to the individual's specific pain pattern, improvements were reported.
This site provides an interactive flowchart to help you identify exercises that may suit your pain type.
When conservative treatment is not enough
When exercise, medication, and psychological approaches do not provide adequate relief, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be considered as a treatment option.
- SCS carries risks, including infection and lead migration, and does not work for everyone
- Multiple clinical trials have reported benefits, though individual results vary
- The procedure is reversible — the device can be removed if needed (this requires a medical decision)
- SCS is covered by insurance in many countries, including national health insurance in Japan and most private insurance plans in the United States
Disclosure: The author of this site is a spine surgeon who performs SCS procedures. The information presented here aims to be balanced and evidence-based. You are encouraged to seek additional opinions and discuss all options — including doing nothing — with your own healthcare provider.