If you've been living with an ache that just won't fully go away, you've probably typed some version of "how do I know if this pain is serious" into Google at some point. You're not alone — and there's a straightforward way to think about it.

Acute pain vs chronic pain: what's the difference?

Acute pain is your body's short-term alarm system. You tweak your back lifting something awkwardly, or wake up with a stiff neck after a bad night's sleep, and within days to a few weeks, it settles as the tissue heals.

Chronic pain is different. It's generally described as pain that persists for three months or longer, often continuing well after the original injury (if there was one) would normally have healed. It doesn't always announce itself dramatically — it's frequently a low-grade, background discomfort that flares under stress, poor sleep, or long periods of sitting or standing, rather than constant, sharp pain.

Common patterns people describe include:

• Lower back pain that never quite disappears, just eases and returns
• Neck or shoulder tension that builds through the work week
• Stiffness that's worse first thing in the morning or after sitting for a while
• Discomfort that's "manageable" but has quietly become part of daily life

That last one is worth sitting with. A lot of people don't seek help for chronic pain because it isn't severe enough to feel like an emergency — it's just annoying enough to adjust around. Working around pain and resolving it aren't the same thing, and that distinction is usually where the conversation with a chiropractor is most useful.

When should you actually get it looked at?

There's no single trigger point, but a few signs suggest it's worth booking an assessment rather than waiting it out:

• It's been going on for more than a few weeks without meaningfully improving
• It keeps coming back — you feel fine, then it flares again, in a repeating cycle
• It's changing your behaviour — you're avoiding certain movements, activities, or exercise because of it
• It's affecting sleep or concentration, even mildly
• Over-the-counter self-care hasn't shifted it after a reasonable stretch of trying

None of these on their own mean something is seriously wrong. Most chronic musculoskeletal pain is manageable and responds well to hands-on assessment and care. But pain that's been left unaddressed for months tends to be harder to unwind than pain caught early, simply because the body has had longer to compensate — other muscles and joints start picking up the slack, which can create a second layer of tension on top of the original issue.

A chiropractic assessment at this stage is about understanding what's actually going on structurally and functionally, and building a plan from there — not jumping straight to a fixed number of sessions.

A gentle note for anyone who hasn't been in for a while

If it's been months — or longer — since your last chiropractic visit, this part is for you.

Bodies change. The spine and posture you had a year ago isn't necessarily the one you have now, especially if work demands, activity levels, or old injuries have shifted in that time. Coming back in for a reassessment isn't about picking up where you left off; it's about getting an accurate, current picture before jumping back into a routine.

There's no judgement in taking a break from care, and there's no need to "catch up" on anything. A reassessment simply gives your chiropractor a clear, present-day baseline — what's changed, what's improved, what might need attention now — so any ongoing plan actually reflects where you are today, not where you were last time you walked in.

If you've been meaning to come back in but haven't quite gotten around to it, that's a completely normal reason to book a reassessment, not a reason to wait for things to get worse first.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does pain need to last to be considered chronic?	Pain that continues for three months or longer is generally considered chronic, particularly if it persists beyond the expected healing time for the original cause.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?	No referral is required to book a chiropractic assessment.
I haven't been to a chiropractor in over a year — do I need to start from scratch?	Not from scratch, but a reassessment is recommended so your chiropractor has a current picture of your spine, posture, and any changes since your last visit, before continuing or adjusting your plan.
Is chronic pain always something to worry about?	Not necessarily — most chronic musculoskeletal pain is manageable. But pain lasting more than a few weeks, or that keeps recurring, is worth having assessed rather than left unaddressed.