Chronic back pain often persists long after an injury has healed or a structural problem has been addressed, and a neurologist is drawing attention to the role the brain and nervous system play in sustaining that pain. Dr. Eric Anderson, Chief Medical Officer of the virtual care company Lin.Health, said the nervous system can become increasingly sensitive to external signals, effectively turning up the volume on pain. The company holds a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot.
The process, known as central sensitization, may explain why some patients continue to experience pain despite surgery, injections, medication, or other conventional treatments. 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 matters for the many patients who cycle through procedures and prescriptions without lasting relief, because it points to a different target for treatment: the nervous system itself rather than only the site of the pain.
Anderson said behavioral therapies can help reduce the nervous system's heightened sensitivity and change how the brain responds to signals, and subsequently the pain experience generated by the brain. 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 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, according to the ASPN Abstract. Participants with other types of musculoskeletal pain also reported improvements.
The implications extend beyond one company's program. Lin Health says its model integrates physician evaluation and clinical oversight, structured behavioral pain recovery, personalized coaching, and continuous patient engagement. The company argues this approach aligns with clinical guidelines but is rarely implemented effectively in traditional systems because of access limitations, clinician shortages, and fragmented care pathways. Targeting the nervous system is described by the company as highly effective but inaccessible to most patients and clinicians because it is very high-touch and not yet included in standard medical training. Lin Health says it bridges that gap with scalable, affordable care that is broadly covered by insurance.
For patients whose back pain persists despite conventional treatment, the message is that the source of the problem may not be limited to the back itself. Understanding how the brain and nervous system contribute to the chronic pain experience could open the door to new ways of finding relief. Additional materials are available through the company's linhealth.onlinepresskit247.com.
