Back pain. Find the cause before you treat it.

Low back pain is the single most common reason people come through our door. Most of it is mechanical, which means it responds to care that targets the specific joint, disc or muscle that's driving it. Our first job is figuring out which one.

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Your first visit
  • History and hands-on exam first
  • X-ray on site, only when the exam calls for it
  • A plain-language explanation and a plan, or a referral

What to expect →

Sound familiar?

What back pain usually feels like.

  • Ache or stiffness across the low back, worse after sitting or first thing in the morning
  • Sharp pain with bending, lifting or standing up from a chair
  • Pain that spreads into one buttock or the back of the thigh
  • Muscle spasm that locks you up for a day or two
  • Trouble standing fully upright
  • A back that 'goes out' a few times a year

What's usually going on

The mechanics behind it.

Your low back is five vertebrae, the discs between them, the small facet joints behind them, and the pelvis they sit on. When any one of those stops moving the way it should, the others compensate, and the muscles around them tighten to protect the area. That protective tightening is usually what you feel. It is rarely the actual problem.

That is why rest, heat and painkillers often help for a week and then the pain comes back. They calm the muscles without addressing what the muscles are protecting. A careful exam tells us whether the driver is a joint, a disc, the pelvis, or a movement habit, and each of those gets a different plan.

How we treat it at Borealis

Find the cause. Treat it. Keep it from coming back.

1

Find the cause

History first, then a hands-on exam of how your spine, hips and pelvis actually move. If the mechanism or your history calls for it, we take X-rays on site the same visit. You leave knowing what's going on in plain language.

2

Treat it

Specific adjusting to restore motion where it's lost. For disc-related pain we use flexion-distraction, a gentle traction technique that doesn't twist or load the disc. Cold laser and massage are added when inflammation or muscle guarding is slowing you down.

3

Keep it from coming back

A short set of movements for home, usually three or four, chosen for your pattern. If your feet or standing posture are part of the picture, we'll say so. The goal is fewer visits over time, not more.

Services involved ChiropracticPhysiotherapy & rehabMLS cold laserMassage therapyFoot Levelers orthotics

Questions

What people ask about back pain.

Don't see yours? Call and ask. The front desk will get you an answer or put you through to a doctor.

How many visits will it take?
It depends on how long you've had it and what's causing it. A recent strain and a twenty-year desk back are different problems. After the exam your doctor gives you a specific plan with a visit count and a point where we re-evaluate, and you'll know what it costs before treatment starts.
Should I rest or keep moving?
For most mechanical back pain, gentle movement beats bed rest. Walking is usually safe and helpful. Avoid the specific motion that lights it up, not all motion. Your doctor will tell you if your case is an exception.
Do I need an MRI first?
Usually not. Most low back pain can be assessed with a thorough exam and, when warranted, plain X-rays, which we take on site. We refer for MRI when the exam suggests nerve involvement that isn't improving or when something doesn't add up.
Is adjusting safe if I have a disc problem?
Technique matters. We don't do rotary adjusting on an acutely irritated disc. Flexion-distraction and decompression techniques are designed specifically for disc cases. If an exam shows adjusting isn't appropriate, we tell you and refer.

Describe it. We'll figure out the rest.

Call and talk to Dawn at the front desk, or walk in Monday through Thursday. You'll leave your first visit knowing what's going on.

Call (715) 748-4433 Get directions