Localized Low Back Pain

Has your low back suddenly become painful or difficult to move? Is the pain a band across your low back or localized to one side? Does it hurt to stand up straight, bend forward, get out of a chair, or roll over in bed? Some episodes begin after lifting, bending, twisting, or an awkward movement. Others develop gradually after prolonged sitting, repetitive activity, or without any obvious cause.

The fact that your pain stays mainly in your low back is actually an important clue. Muscle spasms often develop as the body's natural way of protecting an injured area by limiting movement. Although this can make your back feel "locked" or leave you standing slightly bent forward, it doesn't necessarily mean you've suffered a serious injury.

If your pain is travelling into your buttock, thigh, or leg rather than staying mainly in your low back, please click here to learn about radiating low back pain.

Ongoing low back pain most commonly comes from biomechanical irritation of the spinal joints, discs, ligaments, and surrounding muscles of the lower back.

In many patients, more than one structure becomes irritated at the same time, making it important to identify the underlying injury rather than simply treating the protective muscle spasm. That's why an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment.

Episodes of uncomplicated low back pain that resolve without treatment in a few days are usually suggestive of a simple muscle strain without any significant underlying biomechanical problem.

If your pain and muscle spasms continue beyond a couple of days, there is usually an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. The muscles surrounding the lower back remain tight because they're trying to protect the irritated area, so this is not simply a weak back that needs strengthening or a tight back that needs stretching. Unfortunately, these stereotypical recommendations often lead to further irritation.

Yes. The good news is that most localized low back pain responds very well to chiropractic care once the source of the problem has been accurately diagnosed. Over the past 30 years, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of patients with low back pain, with most pain free and back to pre-injury activity in as little as 1–4 visits.

If your low back pain hasn't improved after a few days, keeps returning, or is interfering with your sleep, exercise, work, or normal daily activities, it's time to have it evaluated.

Different low back conditions often produce remarkably similar symptoms but don't all require the same treatment. An evaluation is designed to determine exactly what's causing your pain so the right treatment can be recommended from the beginning.