Back Pain

Maybe your lower back feels stiff in the mornings. Maybe your mid-back tightens after long workdays. Maybe that dull ache you ignored in January has become more noticeable. You’re not imagining it. Back pain often feels worse in February – and there are real reasons why. Let’s talk about what’s happening this time of year, why your back might be more sensitive right now, and how to reset before spring activity ramps up.

Chronic back pain is rarely about permanent damage. More often, it’s about a gap between what your life demands and what your body is currently prepared to handle.

here’s a particular kind of frustration that comes with chronic back pain. It’s not always dramatic. It doesn’t always stop you in your tracks. Sometimes it’s just there – a dull ache in the morning, stiffness when you stand up, tightness after a long drive, a twinge when you lift something that used to feel easy. Then it fades.

Then it comes back.

If you’ve been living in this loop, you may have started to wonder if this is just your “new normal.” Maybe you’ve adjusted how you move. Maybe you’ve stopped lifting heavy. Maybe you avoid long hikes now, or hesitate before picking up your kids.

Back pain doesn’t just hurt – it interrupts your identity. It makes you second-guess movements that used to feel automatic. It steals sleep. It makes long drives uncomfortable. It makes tying your shoes feel like a negotiation. And perhaps most frustrating of all, it often doesn’t come with a clear explanation. Let’s unpack why back pain develops, why it sometimes refuses to go away, and what actually works to fix it – especially here in an active community like Marin.