am I have plenty of history with CLBP. Years of it. MRIs, PT, stretches of short term disability, lots of oxycontin, you name it, I've been through it. For nearly 4 years now (I'm 47) I'm as closed to being cured as I can be. The trick -- running, and lots of it. No medical suggestion to do such a thing, in fact quite the opposite along the way, but it has been to me a genuine miracle, a life changer. Not to say I don't still have periodic episodes, but they are never as severe as they have been in the past, but the frequency is greatly diminished and the duration of an episode is much shorter. Running while my back is killing me seems to actually help get things straightened out sooner, whatever that means. Neil, Good points. In my humble view, exercise is part of the picture. Exercise is a behaviour, chosen on the basis of a belief system, self-efficacy, expectation and really whether it makes sense to the patient. Changes in movement, sense of the body, fears of 'damage' and other expectations of pain will influence the way the individual moves. Setting the patient up in the right mindset, with good understanding of their pain and what they are going to do physically to help normalise movement and sense of self, I think is helpful. A good experience usually develops confidence and self-belief. An 'it's ok' moment. I break down the exercise or physical activity aspects