Chronic back pain that persists after an injury has healed or after surgery, injections, or medication may stem from the brain and nervous system rather than the back itself, according to neurologist Dr. Eric Anderson, Chief Medical Officer of Lin Health. Anderson is highlighting a process known as central sensitization, in which the nervous system becomes increasingly sensitive to external signals and essentially turns up the volume on pain.
That mechanism can explain why some patients continue to suffer despite conventional treatments, and it is more common than many clinicians assume. In one study of people with chronic back and neck pain, researchers identified central sensitization as the primary driver of pain in 88.3% of cases. The finding matters because it shifts attention away from solely treating the site of pain and toward therapies that change how the brain responds to signals.
Lin Health, a physician-led virtual care platform, has built its pain recovery program around that approach, combining one-on-one coaching, ongoing messaging, and self-guided digital modules and exercises. New research presented by the company at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience examined outcomes among 1,620 people enrolled in the program, including 613 whose primary complaint was back pain. The ASPN Abstract reports that among participants with back pain who completed follow-up assessments, average pain intensity declined within the first month and had fallen by more than one point on a 10-point scale by the third month. Participants with other types of musculoskeletal pain also reported improvements.
The implications extend beyond symptom relief. Targeting the nervous system is considered highly effective, but it is rarely available in traditional care because it is high-touch and not yet part of standard medical training. Lin Health aims to bridge that gap with scalable, affordable care that is broadly covered by insurance. The company's model integrates physician evaluation and clinical oversight with structured behavioral pain recovery and continuous patient engagement, an approach that aligns with clinical guidelines but is seldom implemented effectively due to access limitations, clinician shortages, and fragmented care pathways.
For patients whose back pain has not responded to conventional treatment, the research suggests the source of the problem may not be limited to the back. Understanding the brain's contribution could open the door to new ways of finding relief. Lin Health, which partners with health systems such as Mayo Clinic, has earned a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot, reflecting patient experiences with its virtual program. More information about the company is available at Lin.Health.
