Why back pain so often returns after treatment

You finally felt better. You moved more freely, slept through the night and stopped thinking about your back every few minutes.

Then, perhaps weeks or months later, you bend down, sit through a long day or wake up with that familiar ache.

The first thought can be frightening. A recurrence can make you question everything you did to recover. “Was the treatment effective?” “Did I damage something again?” “Is my spine getting worse?” “Should I stop exercising?”