Low Back Pain Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
At Gonstead Physical Medicine, we specialize in effectively addressing low back pain, one of the most common conditions impacting quality of life. Approximately 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point. It ranks as the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and one of the primary reasons for doctor visits. Lower back pain is also the second most common cause of missed workdays. This widespread issue results from the significant stress the lumbar spine endures throughout life.
Low back pain presents in various forms, from a persistent, dull ache to sharp, sudden pain that can restrict movement or even make rest uncomfortable. Pain can radiate into the hips, legs, feet, and toes, often causing numbness, tingling, or sharp, burning sensations in the legs. When left untreated, low back pain can worsen, leading to chronic discomfort and functional limitations.
Early treatment of low back pain is essential to prevent long-term degeneration of bones and discs. Many patients come to us after years of unresolved injuries or accidents, some dating back to childhood, which were never properly treated. These untreated issues can worsen over time, making them more challenging to correct. We recommend regular spinal check-ups at least once a year for those without symptoms and more frequently for anyone experiencing symptoms, especially those with a history of injuries or high-stress lifestyles.
$79 Disc Injury Special
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
- Consultation
- Free MRI Review
- X-Rays
- Dr’s Report of Findings
- Decompression on Day 2 Appointment
How Our Low Back Pain Care Plan Works
Find It
Through our meticulous exam process we are going to find the root cause of your problem and show you exactly what is going on.
Fix It
We will develop a custom plan of attack using our comprehensive approach that won’t just have you feeling better in the short term but will give you the lasting results that you have been looking for.
Forget It
When you aren’t feeling 100% it is hard to focus on much else. Once we get you feeling and functioning better you will be able to forget all about your problem and get back to enjoying your life!
How We Treat Low Back Pain In Phoenix, AZ
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Our goal is to identify the root cause of your low back pain. We start with a thorough consultation, asking detailed questions and reviewing your health history. Many patients express that they haven’t felt heard by other doctors, so we make sure to take a complete health history to truly understand your unique case and what you’re experiencing.
We then perform static and motion palpation exams to locate areas of pain. Using a nervoscope, we detect inflammation and pinpoint the exact nerves and spinal levels involved affected by your problem. We also conduct orthopedic tests to assess disc, ligament, nerve, and muscle involvement.
Advanced Digital X-Ray Analysis
We use a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine to take precise images of your spine. These images allow us to identify the specific cause of your low back pain. Our advanced X-ray measurement system also identifies spinal misalignments, such as rotation, lateral, and posterior positioning.
Motion study X-rays help us see what happens when you move, showing which spinal bones are “stuck” or misaligned. This comprehensive analysis enables us to target the root cause of your lower back pain, ensuring we address the underlying issue rather than merely masking symptoms with temporary solutions like pain medication.
Once the consultation, exam, and X-rays are complete, our doctors perform an in-depth analysis to provide a customized diagnosis and treatment plan. We also offer complimentary MRI reviews for patients with previous MRIs or if our doctors recommend one. Care plans may include chiropractic adjustments, red light therapy, massage, spinal decompression, and rehabilitative exercise, all tailored to the patient’s condition and specific needs.
After completing the initial care plan, we perform follow-up X-rays to evaluate progress and confirm that the spine is as stable as possible.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Phoenix, AZ
Our primary focus at Gonstead Physical Medicine is providing specific chiropractic care for low back pain. Many spinal issues stem from subluxations—vertebrae that are misaligned or not moving correctly with surrounding vertebrae. These misalignments can irritate nerves, causing symptoms like arm or leg pain, muscle tightness, and disc problems. Our adjustments relieve nerve pressure and restore the spine’s natural function, improving symptoms.
Subluxations in the lumbar spine can lead to various health issues, including chronic low back pain, muscle tightness, sciatica, and disc complications. If left untreated, these misalignments can impair mobility, reduce quality of life, and contribute to chronic pain.
We use the precise Gonstead technique, a hands-on method that targets specific vectors of each subluxation. We also offer gentle instrument-based adjustments with tools like the activator and arthrostim for patients with osteoporosis or previous surgeries.
Chiropractic care offers unique advantages over conventional treatments, as it targets the root cause of pain rather than masking symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments are non-invasive and drug-free and promote long-term wellness by enhancing the body’s natural healing ability. This holistic approach is ideal for patients seeking a natural, sustainable path to pain relief and improved health.
Customized Rehabilitative Exercise
Strengthening weak back muscles through targeted exercises is essential for relieving and preventing low back pain. These exercises support spinal stability, alleviate muscle imbalances, and restore posture. Customized therapeutic exercise plans offer patients long-term relief, better posture, and a resilient, strong back.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy complements chiropractic adjustments by relaxing tight muscles, which makes it easier for the body to hold spinal corrections. Massage improves blood flow, reduces muscle tension, and increases flexibility, enhancing the effectiveness of adjustments. Massage and chiropractic work in tandem to provide a comprehensive approach to pain relief, mobility improvement, and overall wellness.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal discs act as shock absorbers and provide flexibility between vertebrae. Each disc has a tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus) and a gel-like center (nucleus pulposus). Over time, discs may wear down, bulge, or herniate, pressing on nerves and causing pain.
At Gonstead Physical Medicine, we use DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression, a non-surgical treatment that gently stretches the spine and creates negative pressure within the discs. This process relieves nerve pressure and promotes healing. We’ve been using spinal decompression to effectively treat lower back pain since 2006, with a 90% success rate!
Red Light Therapy
We utilize Red Light Therapy (RLT), a non-invasive treatment that uses low-level red or near-infrared light to promote healing and reduce pain. RLT effectively relieves low back pain through cellular healing, reduced inflammation, collagen production, and improved blood circulation. RLT penetrates the skin to energize cells, accelerate tissue repair, and support recovery, making it a promising therapy for chronic pain management. Red Light Therapy is an excellent tool for fast lower back pain relief.
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain in Phoenix, AZ
Common causes of low back pain include poor posture, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, prolonged sitting, improper workout techniques, incorrect lifting and bending, falls, sports injuries, and car accidents. Many patients experience mechanical problems stemming from disc breakdown, muscle spasms, spinal misalignments, and pinched nerves. Herniated, bulging, and slipped discs, along with spinal stenosis, arthritis, and degenerative disc disease (DDD), are frequent conditions that we treat successfully at Gonstead Physical Medicine.
Herniated and Bulging Discs
Our team treats many patients with disc damage causing low back pain. Lumbar discs, the soft cushions between vertebrae, consist of a tough outer layer called the annulus fibrosus and a gel-like center known as the nucleus pulposus. When the disc’s outer layer weakens, the nucleus may push outward, creating a bulge that presses against the spinal nerves. Bulging discs often result from age-related wear and tear, repetitive stress, poor posture, or sudden injuries, leading to symptoms like localized back pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs.
Herniated lumbar discs differ because the nucleus pulposus ruptures through the annulus fibrosus, causing more severe nerve compression and inflammation. This rupture can produce sharp, radiating pain, severe leg pain, and muscle weakness. Through spinal decompression using the DRX 9000, we achieve a 90% success rate in treating herniated discs with no side effects, providing effective real lower back pain relief for our patients.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is the gradual breakdown of spinal discs due to aging or chronic stress. Over time, the discs lose hydration and flexibility, making them more susceptible to damage. This deterioration can reduce disc height, cause instability, and lead to bone spur formation.
Risk factors for DDD include age, genetics, smoking, obesity, and high-impact activities that place strain on the spine. DDD can result in chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, affecting posture and balance. Regular chiropractic care, a healthy diet, proper posture, ergonomics, and exercise are among the best strategies for preventing or slowing disc degeneration.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis, a significant contributor to low back pain, is the narrowing of the spinal column, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This condition is often caused by bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or herniated discs. Symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness, which may worsen with prolonged standing or walking. Traditional treatments include medication, steroid injections, and surgery, but we have found that DRX 9000 spinal decompression provides optimal relief, enhancing disc health and alleviating pressure on the spine without side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be concerned about low back pain?
When pain is more than an occasional slight ache, it’s essential to determine its cause. Pain can quickly escalate into something more severe. If the pain is severe, constant, radiates down the legs, causes numbness or tingling, follows an injury, or persists for more than a few weeks, it often indicates a disc problem.
What can I do to relieve low back pain in Phoenix, AZ?
Pain medication will only temporarily relieve your lower back pain. Once the medication wears off, the pain will return. Chiropractic care corrects the underlying cause to get rid of lower back pain for good. Gonstead adjustments, red light therapy, massage, and spinal decompression are some of the most effective treatments for low back pain.
What causes low back pain?
Low back pain often results from spinal misalignment, past trauma, poor posture, incorrect lifting, prolonged sitting, poor ergonomics, and lifestyle factors like obesity and inactivity.
How do I know if my low back pain is muscle or disc-related?
Muscle pain is generally localized and not constant, while disc pain is more severe and often radiates into the hips or legs, accompanied by numbness or tingling.
Is chiropractic or massage better for low back pain?
These treatments target different causes of pain. If a spinal misalignment is present, chiropractic adjustments are the best solution. Muscle tightness alone may benefit more from massage. Chiropractic and massage work in tandem for long-term lower back pain relief.
$79 Disc Injury Special
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression. Includes Consultation, Free MRI Review, X-Rays, Dr’s Report of Findings, Decompression on Day 2 Appointment.