Chronic pain lasts three months or longer and affects roughly 1 in 5 American adults. The most common causes include low back pain, arthritis, nerve damage, fibromyalgia, herniated discs, and sciatica. Poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, diabetes, and prior injuries are major contributing factors. In Queens, where many residents work desk jobs or physically demanding roles, chronic pain is a significant and often undertreated health issue. Early diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan are key to lasting relief.
Pain that lasts a few days after an injury makes sense. Your body is healing. But when pain lingers for three months or more, long after any obvious injury has healed, that is chronic pain, and it works differently. It does not just signal tissue damage anymore. It involves changes in how the nervous system processes pain signals, how muscles and joints compensate over time, and often how a person moves through everyday life.
In Queens, this is not a rare problem. Queens is one of the most densely populated and diverse urban counties in the country. Residents here work long hours at desks, in warehouses, in healthcare, on their feet all day in restaurants, or sitting behind the wheel for rideshare and delivery routes. The physical demands vary, but the result is often the same: bodies that have been pushed without adequate care for years, until the pain stops going away.
Understanding what is actually driving your chronic pain is the first step toward treating it effectively. Here are the most common conditions we see.
Low Back Pain: The Most Widespread Cause
If there is one condition that comes up more than any other in a chronic pain conversation, it is low back pain. Globally, it is the single leading cause of disability. In our Queens practice, it accounts for a significant portion of the patients who walk through the door describing pain that has been present for months or even years.
Low back pain becomes chronic for several reasons. A herniated disc, where the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer and presses on a nearby nerve, is one of the most common structural causes. Spinal stenosis, a gradual narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, tends to develop in adults over 50 and often causes pain that worsens with standing or walking. Degenerative disc disease, which is simply the natural wear of spinal discs over time, can accelerate with physical stress and poor mechanics.
For patients seeking chronic pain treatment in Queens, low back pain is often the primary concern, and it rarely has a single cause. Most cases involve a combination of structural changes, muscle imbalance, and movement habits that have developed over years.
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Can Bad Posture Actually Cause Chronic Back Pain?
This is a question that comes up constantly, and the honest answer is yes, though it is a bit more nuanced than simply “sit up straight.” Poor posture by itself is unlikely to cause an acute injury overnight. But over months and years, sustained poor positioning creates real physiological changes.
When you sit for long periods with your lower back rounded or your head pushed forward, you increase compressive load on the lumbar discs, strain the supporting muscles and ligaments, and gradually alter the natural curvature of the spine. The muscles that are supposed to stabilize the spine become either chronically shortened or chronically lengthened and weak.
This sets up an environment where even minor movements can trigger pain. So yes, can bad posture cause chronic back pain is a reasonable question, and the evidence says it absolutely contributes, especially in people who sit for six or more hours a day without ergonomic support or regular movement breaks.
Remote workers, office workers, students, and drivers in Queens are among those most at risk for this type of postural chronic pain, and it often starts subtly before becoming a daily problem.
Sciatica and Nerve-Related Chronic Pain
Sciatica is not a diagnosis by itself. It is a symptom, specifically the radiating pain, numbness, or tingling that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down one leg, caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. The underlying cause might be a herniated disc, bone spur, or spinal stenosis pressing on the nerve root.
What makes sciatica a chronic problem for many people is that it is easy to mismanage. Rest alone does not resolve nerve compression. Without addressing the structural cause, the irritation persists and the pain becomes a long-term fixture. Patients sometimes describe it as a deep aching or burning that never fully goes away, punctuated by sharper flares with movement.
Arthritis: Joint Pain That Compounds Over Time
Osteoarthritis is the gradual breakdown of cartilage within joints, and it affects over 32 million American adults. The knees, hips, hands, and spine are the most commonly affected areas. As cartilage wears down, bones can begin to rub against each other, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness that tends to worsen with activity and improve slightly with rest, at least in earlier stages.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a different disease entirely. It is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joint lining, causing inflammation, pain, and eventually joint damage. Unlike osteoarthritis, it affects people of all ages and often involves systemic symptoms like fatigue and morning stiffness lasting more than an hour.
In Queens, where a significant portion of the population is over 50 and many communities have elevated rates of conditions like diabetes that accelerate joint degeneration, arthritis is an especially prevalent driver of what causes chronic back pain and chronic pain in the hips, knees, and hands.
If you have been managing joint or back pain on your own and it is not improving, the team at Doctors of New York in Flushing can help you get to the actual cause. Call us at +1 (929) 928-0175 to schedule an evaluation.
Fibromyalgia: Chronic Pain Without a Clear Structural Cause
Fibromyalgia is one of the more misunderstood chronic pain conditions. It does not show up on X-rays or MRI scans. There is no visible tissue damage. Yet the pain is real, widespread, and often debilitating. It affects roughly 2 to 4 percent of the population and is far more common in women than men.
The leading theory is that fibromyalgia involves central sensitization, a state where the nervous system becomes overactive and amplifies pain signals, making the brain perceive pain from stimuli that would not normally be painful. Patients typically describe widespread muscle aching, fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties often called “fibro fog.”
Diagnosing fibromyalgia requires ruling out other conditions first, and it is frequently delayed or missed entirely in primary care settings.
Diabetic Neuropathy and Chronic Nerve Pain
Queens has a large South Asian and Hispanic population, both groups with significantly elevated rates of type 2 diabetes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar, affects up to half of all people with diabetes and is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in the feet, legs, and hands.
The pain is often described as burning, tingling, electric, or like walking on glass. It tends to be worse at night and can severely disrupt sleep and quality of life. Managing the underlying diabetes is central to slowing its progression, but the neuropathic pain itself also requires targeted treatment.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
This one does not get as much attention as it deserves. Myofascial pain syndrome involves the development of trigger points, which are hyperirritable spots within muscle tissue that cause localized tenderness and refer pain to other areas. A trigger point in the upper back, for instance, might refer pain to the neck or cause headaches.
It is common after repetitive strain injuries, poor ergonomics, or prolonged muscle tension, all of which are very familiar to Queens residents working physically demanding or sedentary jobs. It is also frequently overlooked because imaging does not reveal it.
The Role of Mental Health in Chronic Pain
This is not about whether the pain is “in your head.” It is about how the brain and body are genuinely connected. Research consistently shows that depression and anxiety are present in 30 to 50 percent of people with chronic pain, and the relationship runs both ways. Chronic pain contributes to depression, and depression lowers the pain threshold and makes recovery harder.
Sleep disruption, social withdrawal, reduced physical activity, and stress all feed back into the pain cycle. Effective back pain treatment in Queens and chronic pain management more broadly almost always needs to account for this connection, not by dismissing the physical pain, but by treating the whole person.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Pain that has persisted for more than a few weeks, is interfering with sleep or daily activities, is not responding to over-the-counter medications, or is accompanied by weakness, numbness, or unexplained weight loss warrants a medical evaluation. The earlier chronic pain is properly evaluated, the better the outcomes tend to be. What causes chronic back pain is rarely just one thing, and the same is true for most chronic pain conditions. Getting an accurate diagnosis is the foundation of any effective treatment plan.
According to the American Chronic Pain Association, chronic pain is one of the most undertreated conditions in medicine, largely because patients and providers alike underestimate how manageable it can be with the right approach.
At Doctors of New York, we serve patients across Flushing, Long Island City, Astoria, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, Bayside, and surrounding Queens communities.
If chronic pain has been limiting your life, we are here to help you understand what is driving it and what can actually be done. Call us at +1 (929) 928-0175 or visit our clinic to book an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chronic pain always caused by an injury?
No. While injuries are a common starting point, many people develop chronic pain without a specific injury. Conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and neuropathy can cause persistent pain even when there is no history of trauma. Nerve sensitization, inflammation, and systemic conditions are all common non-injury causes.
Can stress alone cause physical chronic pain?
Yes, psychological stress can contribute directly to physical pain. Stress triggers muscle tension, raises inflammation markers, and alters how the nervous system processes pain. Over time, chronic stress can either initiate or worsen pain conditions, especially in the back, neck, and head.
What is the difference between acute pain and chronic pain?
Acute pain is short-term and directly tied to tissue damage or illness. It resolves as healing occurs. Chronic pain persists beyond the normal healing period, typically more than three months, and may continue even after the original cause has resolved. It often involves changes in how the nervous system itself functions.
Can chronic pain be cured, or just managed?
This depends on the underlying cause. Some chronic pain conditions, like those caused by correctable structural problems, can be significantly reduced or resolved with appropriate treatment. Others, like fibromyalgia or certain neuropathies, are managed rather than cured, with the goal being reduced pain, improved function, and better quality of life.
Does weight affect chronic pain?
Yes, significantly. Excess body weight increases mechanical stress on joints, particularly the knees, hips, and lumbar spine. It also promotes systemic inflammation, which can worsen conditions like arthritis and neuropathy. Even modest weight loss has been shown to reduce chronic pain in these areas.
At what age does chronic pain most commonly start?
Chronic pain can begin at any age, but prevalence increases significantly after age 45. Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis become more common with age, as does the accumulation of repetitive strain injuries. However, younger adults are frequently affected, particularly from fibromyalgia, neuropathy, and injury-related conditions.
Can physical therapy actually help chronic pain long-term?
Yes. Physical therapy is one of the most evidence-supported treatments for chronic pain, particularly musculoskeletal and spinal pain. It addresses the underlying muscle imbalances, movement patterns, and structural issues contributing to pain, rather than just masking symptoms. Consistent adherence to a physical therapy program often produces durable results.
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Author :
Dr. Tony Trpkovski, MD, is the Founder and CEO of Doctors of New York, where he leads a mission to deliver fast, high-quality, patient-first care to the local and visiting communities of Queens. With a proven track record of healthcare innovation, Dr. Trpkovski also serves as CEO of NIU Health and holds an executive role at Doctors of Waikiki. His leadership continues to transform urgent and primary care through compassionate service, extended access, and modern medical solutions.