Scientists have analysed patterns in back pain over time, identifying factors that can help better personalise the medication and therapies to treat different patients.
Back pain is among the most frequently reported health problems in the world.
The study, published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, identifies patient characteristics and the extent of healthcare and medication use (including opioids) associated with different back pain patterns.
The study included a representative sample of the Canadian population that was followed from 1994 to 2011.
A total of 12,782 participants were interviewed every two years and provided data on factors including comorbidities, pain, disability, opioid and other medication use, and healthcare visits.
During the 16 years of follow-up, almost half (45.6 per cent) of participants reported back pain at least once.
There were four trajectories of pain among these participants: persistent (18 per cent), developing (28.1 per cent), recovery (20.5 per cent), and occasional (33.4 per cent).
The persistent and developing groups tended to have more pain and disability, as well as more healthcare visits and medication use than those in the recovery and occasional trajectory groups.
The recovery trajectory group increased the use of opioids and antidepressants over time.
"The good news is that one in five people with back pain recovered; however, they continued to use opioids and antidepressants, suggesting that people recovering from back pain need ongoing monitoring," said Mayilee Canizares, from the University Health Network's Krembil Research Institute in Canada.
"The bad news was that one in five experienced persistent back pain, with an additional group -- almost one in three -- who developed back pain over time," said Canizares.
"These two groups were associated with greater pain limiting activity, disability, and depression, as well as increased healthcare and medication use," she said.
Canizares noted that the findings suggest that people with back pain are a heterogeneous group that may benefit from different approaches to management rather than a traditional one size fits all approach.
"The distinct groups identified in the study may represent opportunities for more individualised treatment and preventative strategies," she said.
