Set A: Back pain basicsCard A2 of A5
How long does back pain usually last?
Short answer
Most back pain improves within a few weeks, and many people feel better much sooner. Some episodes last longer or keep coming back, and pain beyond about 12 weeks is usually called chronic.
The usual course of an episode
The NHS says back pain, particularly lower back pain, usually improves within a few weeks but can sometimes last longer or keep coming back. MedlinePlus, the US National Library of Medicine's health site, gives a similar picture for sudden low back pain. It says most people improve or recover within 4 to 6 weeks, often much sooner, and that many people feel better within a week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that in most cases of acute low back pain the symptoms go away on their own and most people recover well. These are averages across many people, and individual recovery varies.
Acute, subacute and chronic pain
Clinicians sort back pain by how long it has lasted, but the cut-off points are not identical everywhere. The US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) describes acute pain as lasting a few days to a few weeks, subacute pain as lasting 4 to 12 weeks, and chronic pain as lasting longer than 12 weeks. WHO uses under 6 weeks for acute, 6 to 12 weeks for subacute and over 12 weeks for chronic. The NICE guideline NG59 defines acute as less than 3 months and chronic as 3 months or longer, and notes that the intensity of pain may fluctuate over time.
These labels describe duration only. They do not say how severe the pain is or what is causing it. The page What is chronic low back pain? looks at long-lasting pain in more depth.
When pain lingers or comes back
WHO notes that for some people symptoms continue and turn into chronic pain, and that repeated episodes of low back pain become more common with age. The NHS likewise mentions that back pain can keep coming back.
What helps or slows recovery is still being studied, and sources stress different points. The NHS and NICE both encourage staying active and continuing normal daily activities, which is discussed on Should I rest or keep moving when my back hurts? and Does exercise help back pain? MedlinePlus advises avoiding heavy lifting and twisting for the first 6 weeks after pain begins. For the underlying causes of an episode, see What causes most low back pain? or the wider Back pain basics collection.
When to get help
Sources set different thresholds for a first check-up. The NHS suggests seeing a GP if pain has not improved after treating it at home for a few weeks. MedlinePlus advises contacting a provider if an episode lasts longer than 4 weeks. Pain at any stage needs prompt attention in some situations. The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E for back pain with pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs, loss of feeling around the genitals or anus, or changes in bladder or bowel function. These and other warning signs are explained on When is back pain an emergency? Practice varies by country and by clinician, and this page is general education, not personal medical advice.