Chronic back pain often persists long after an injury has healed or a structural problem has been addressed, and neurologist Dr. Eric Anderson is drawing attention to the brain and nervous system as key culprits. As Chief Medical Officer of Lin Health, a virtual health care company with a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot, Anderson explains that when the nervous system becomes increasingly sensitive to external signals, its response is to essentially turn up the volume on pain. This process, known as central sensitization, can help explain why some people continue to experience pain despite surgery, injections, medication, or other conventional treatments.
The implications are significant for the millions who suffer from chronic back pain and for the clinicians who treat them. 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. That finding suggests that for many patients, the source of the problem may not be limited to the back itself, opening the door to new ways of finding relief that target the nervous system rather than solely the site of pain.
Anderson says behavioral therapies can help reduce the nervous system's heightened sensitivity and change how the brain responds to signals, and subsequently the pain experience that is generated by the brain. Rather than focusing solely on the area that hurts, these approaches help patients better understand their symptoms and develop new ways to respond to pain. Lin Health's virtual pain recovery program incorporates these strategies through one-on-one coaching, ongoing messaging, and self-guided digital modules and exercises.
New research presented by Lin Health at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience adds to the evidence. The study examined outcomes among 1,620 people enrolled in the company's program, including 613 whose primary complaint was back pain. 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 full findings are available in the ASPN Abstract and the Full Study Poster.
For patients whose back pain persists despite conventional treatment, understanding how the brain and nervous system contribute to the chronic pain experience could be transformative. It shifts the focus from purely structural interventions to therapies that address the underlying nervous system sensitivity, potentially reducing reliance on surgery and medication. Lin Health, founded in 2021, partners with leading health systems such as Mayo Clinic to deliver multidisciplinary care that addresses the biological, behavioral, and social drivers of chronic conditions. The company's model integrates physician evaluation and clinical oversight, structured behavioral pain recovery, personalized coaching and care plans, and continuous patient engagement. This approach aligns with clinical guidelines but is rarely implemented effectively in traditional systems due to access limitations, clinician shortages, and fragmented care pathways. By targeting the nervous system in a scalable, affordable way that is broadly covered by insurance, Lin Health aims to bridge that gap. More information is available at Lin.Health.
