It is my view that a physical condition seldom exists without a mental and or spiritual connection. So a pain in your back is sometimes a manifestation of what is going on in your head or your heart and even both.
Massage when used as a holistic healing tool requires that you set a massage focus. The focus is something that you rest your mind on and ask for healing, restoration or peace in. The simplest way is to repeat the words "peace in" when breathing in and "imagine whatever the pain or situation to be leaving you when you breathe out.
The cycle of breathing and mental focus helps to make your body conscious of the need to send oxygen and nutrition to the affected area, to offer the relief that is needed. The experience can bring to mind other memories which also need to be treated in the same way.
You can share your focus with your therapist so that they can ask for the same restoration when performing the massage which will amplify the results. Be sure to let your therapist know if they are work at pressures which disturb your meditative state of mind, not too hard and not too soft either.