Understood! As I noted in my comment, the book I recommend also stresses the importance of the fact that most chronic back pain is "all inside yor head" and tries to give some relief by making you understand and ruling out most of the possible non-psychological sources for such pains. I highlighted the self-massage thing only because next to understandting my condition, that was the single most important tool the book gave me to deal with the non-psychological components of my pain. But this might not have been totally clear from my comment above, I am sorry for that!

Oh, I was agreeing with your remark regarding the issue almost always being in the tissue!

I see now! Sorry, it was way too early in the morning. I shouldn't comment before coffee... :)

Had you changed your diet at all during your journey to problem solve the pain?

Not GP but personally I have found limiting caffeine consumption to help a lot with back pain. More than one cup of coffee (12g of beans) seems to result in exacerbation of any minor back pain I may have on that day. I also now take a day or two off from drinking any coffee after a few days of consumption. With this change, more sleep and some light stretching on some days I no longer have back pain. Oh, I also moved to a firm mattress.

I drastically reduced the amount fat I eat, but I did that to accommodate my partner's new diet, not entirely voluntarily. :)