Back pain can start with an injury, a muscle strain, a disc problem, or sometimes no obvious cause at all. But when pain sticks around, there can be more to the story.
Override specializes in chronic pain. Our virtual care team looks at the physical, neurological, and emotional factors that can influence ongoing back pain, then builds a personalized care plan around your needs, goals, and life.
of appointments are fully virtual. In-network with most insurance plans in select states.
of patients who complete the full program report meaningful pain reduction
reduction in pain severity shown in studies of similar interdisciplinary care models
*Source: Internal Override Health patient-reported outcomes data
Back pain shows up for a lot of reasons, and where it hurts, and how it behaves, often points to why:
Sharp, sudden pain: often a muscle strain, a spasm, or a disc irritation from lifting or a sudden movement
Dull, persistent ache: commonly tied to posture, muscle imbalance, or a degenerative change in the spine over time
Pain that radiates down a leg: usually nerve-related; see our Sciatica page
Pain on one side only (left or right): often muscular or joint-related rather than a spine-wide issue
Pain between the shoulder blades: frequently posture or upper-back muscle related rather than lower-spine
Pain is processed by the brain, not just the site of injury. When back pain sticks around, the nervous system can become more sensitized over time, amplifying pain signals even after tissue has healed. This is a real, physiological process, and it’s a piece most single-provider treatment plans never touch. We have pioneered a new way of care that explores unique facets of pain to help patients find relief.
When you’ve lived with back pain for months or years, it can start affecting much more than the place that hurts.
Pain can change how you move. How you sleep. How you work. What you avoid. How you feel. Even how confident you are doing things you used to do without thinking twice.
And those pieces can affect pain in return.
That’s why Override doesn’t treat chronic back pain as only a body-part problem.
We look at the whole pain experience and build a personalized plan around your symptoms, history, goals, and the factors that may be contributing to your pain.
You may have already seen a doctor. Tried physical therapy. Taken medication. Had an injection or procedure. Maybe something helped for a while. Maybe nothing did. Override isn’t about asking one more treatment to solve every part of a complex pain experience.
It’s about bringing the right care together.
Depending on your needs, your personalized care plan may include:
Pain specialists trained in pain neuroscience and non-opioid chronic pain management who can oversee your care plan, guide evidence-based treatment, and adjust medications when appropriate.
Movement specialists trained in chronic pain who help you work toward improved strength, mobility, function, and confidence in movement.
Pain-focused therapists who help address the stress, emotions, fear, thoughts, and patterns that can influence the chronic pain experience.
Certified pain coaches help you turn what you’re learning into everyday habits, work toward meaningful goals, and stay supported between visits.
Your care is personalized to you. You may not need every service. The difference is that your providers can work together as one team, with one shared understanding of your pain and your goals.
Nancy H.
Override patient
Here’s a closer look at some of the specific conditions behind back pain we treat.
A disc pressing on a nerve, often causing sharp pain or a shooting sensation.
Wear-and-tear changes in the discs that cushion your spine.
Narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress nerves.
Pain localized to the base of the spine, often worse when sitting.
A chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine.
There isn’t one treatment that works for every type of back pain.
The right approach depends on what’s contributing to your pain, how long you’ve had it, your symptoms, your health history, and how pain is affecting your daily life.
Back pain treatment can include physical therapy, medications, behavioral approaches, injections, procedures, and other types of care. When back pain becomes chronic, a combination of approaches may be appropriate.
We’ve created a complete guide to back pain treatment options, including how different approaches work and when they may be considered.
Override is designed for people living with chronic or persistent back pain, especially when pain has lasted for months, keeps coming back, or hasn’t improved enough with the care you’ve already tried.
Override may be a good fit if:
Your back pain has lasted three months or longer
Your pain keeps returning or interfering with your daily life
You’ve tried treatments, medications, physical therapy, or procedures without enough relief
Pain is affecting your movement, sleep, work, mood, or the things you want to do
You feel like you’ve been treating individual symptoms without looking at the bigger picture
You’re looking for a more comprehensive approach to managing chronic pain
Override isn’t emergency or acute injury care. If your back pain is new, follows a serious injury, or comes with symptoms such as new loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or severe or rapidly worsening weakness, seek appropriate in-person medical care.
Recurring back pain usually means something contributing to it, a muscle imbalance, a postural habit, or a sensitized nervous system, hasn’t fully been addressed, even if individual flare-ups fade on their own.
If pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, keeps recurring, radiates into a leg, or comes with numbness, weakness, fever, or unexplained weight loss, it’s worth getting evaluated.
Generally not for more than a day or two. Prolonged bed rest tends to stiffen muscles and slow recovery compared to gentle movement and gradual activity.
No. While some age-related changes are common, chronic pain isn’t something you have to just accept. Most causes, even degenerative ones, respond well to the right care.
There are many possible causes of back pain, including muscle strains, spasms, joint problems, disc changes, nerve irritation, injuries, and other medical conditions. Where your pain occurs, how it feels, how long it has lasted, and whether you have other symptoms can help determine what may be contributing to it.
Lower back pain may come from the muscles, joints, discs, or nerves in and around the lower spine. Muscle strains, herniated discs, degenerative changes, spinal stenosis, and nerve irritation are some possible causes.
One-sided back pain can be related to a muscle strain, joint, disc, or nerve, but pain felt on one side of the back can sometimes come from another part of the body. Back pain accompanied by fever, nausea, urinary changes, abdominal pain, or other symptoms should be medically evaluated.
A pulled or strained back muscle may feel sore, tight, tender, or stiff. Pain may become more noticeable when you move or use the affected muscles.
Morning back pain can have several possible causes. Remaining in one position overnight may contribute to stiffness, while an existing back condition or other factors may also play a role. Frequent or persistent morning back pain is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Sitting can change the amount of pressure placed on different structures in the back and may aggravate some types of back pain. If sitting consistently causes pain, a healthcare professional can help determine what may be contributing to it.
Back pain and nausea can sometimes occur together, but the back isn’t always the source. Kidney, digestive, and other medical conditions can cause pain that is felt in the back. If back pain occurs with nausea, fever, abdominal pain, urinary symptoms, or feeling significantly unwell, seek medical evaluation.
Recovery depends on the severity of the strain and other individual factors. A minor strain may begin improving within days or weeks, while more significant injuries can take longer. Pain that persists well beyond the expected healing period may warrant further evaluation.
Chronic back pain is different for everyone, and no treatment can guarantee that pain will completely disappear. Comprehensive pain care can help people better understand and manage their pain, improve function, build confidence, and develop tools for navigating pain over time.
Schedule your free consultation today to learn more.
