How long does back pain last?

How long back pain lasts changes how much care you may end up paying for.

Days, weeks or months

MedlinePlus separates two cases. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. The other end of the scale is longer. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Your pain may fall between those two lines, and we cannot say where. A clinician who examines you can.

Why the timeline matters for a quote

A short episode and a long one call for different amounts of care, so a quote should say which one it assumes. Either case can only be priced firmly once the office states the length of care it is assuming. Ask how many visits the plan counts on and when it expects to reassess.

What to do next

Note the date your pain started and bring it to the visit. Then read the OrthoInfo low back pain page, the MedlinePlus pain page and the NIAMS back pain overview.

If your pain passes three months

A ballpark can assume a few weeks of care, while a firm quote should state its assumption in writing. If you are in Garfield and your pain passed the three-month line, ask whether the quote still fits.