G-2N5K1SHHZS

Lower Back Pain Treatment in Phoenix, AZ

Low back pain affects roughly 80% of people at some point in life and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and the second most common reason for missed workdays. A chiropractic doctor near Phoenix, AZ treats low back pain by finding its root cause through digital X-rays and a comprehensive exam, then building a plan around Gonstead adjustments, spinal decompression, red light therapy, and massage. Low back pain is often connected to a prior disc injury, car accident, or neck pain, which is why the full list of conditions treated is evaluated during every consultation.

Schedule Appointment(602) 973-1630

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.

$79 Disc Injury Special

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

  • Consultation
  • Free MRI Review
  • X-Rays
  • Dr’s Report of Findings
  • Decompression on Day 2 Appointment
Schedule Your Apppointment
Low Back Pain Treatment Near Me in Phoenix, AZ. Chiropractor For Low Back Pain Relief.

How Common Is Low Back Pain, and Why Does It Happen?

Low back pain is one of the most common conditions impacting quality of life. Approximately 80% of people will experience it at some point, and it ranks as the leading cause of disability in the United States and one of the top reasons for doctor visits. It is also the second most common cause of missed workdays. This widespread problem results from the significant stress the lumbar spine endures throughout life. Pain can appear as a persistent dull ache or as sharp, sudden pain that restricts movement or interrupts rest, and it can radiate into the hips, legs, feet, and toes, often causing numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the legs. Left untreated, low back pain tends to worsen into chronic discomfort and long-term functional limitation.

Is Chiropractic Care or Massage Better for Low Back Pain?

These treatments address different causes of pain. When a spinal misalignment is present, chiropractic adjustments are the more effective solution. When muscle tightness alone is the issue, massage can help more directly. Chiropractic care and massage therapy work in tandem for long-term lower back pain relief.

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.

What Can I Do to Relieve Low Back Pain in Phoenix, AZ?

Pain medication only offers temporary relief, and pain typically returns once the medication wears off. Chiropractic care instead corrects the underlying cause to resolve low back pain for the long term. Gonstead adjustments, red light therapy, massage, and non-surgical spinal decompression are among the most effective treatments available for low back pain relief.

How Do I Know if My Low Back Pain Is Muscle- or Disc-Related?

Muscle-related pain is generally localized and not constant, while disc-related pain tends to be more severe and often radiates into the hips or legs, accompanied by numbness or tingling. A comprehensive consultation, exam, and digital X-rays are the most reliable way to tell the difference and confirm the true root cause.

How Does a Chiropractic Doctor Diagnose Low Back Pain?

Diagnosis starts with a thorough consultation and a complete review of health history, since many patients feel other providers never fully listened to their concerns. Static and motion palpation exams locate areas of pain, a nervoscope detects inflammation and pinpoints the exact nerves and spinal levels involved, and orthopedic tests assess disc, ligament, nerve, and muscle involvement. A state-of-the-art digital X-ray system then identifies spinal misalignments such as rotation, lateral shift, and posterior positioning, while motion study X-rays show which spinal bones are stuck or misaligned during movement. Complimentary MRI reviews are also available for patients with a previous MRI or when a doctor recommends one. After the initial care plan, follow-up X-rays confirm progress and spinal stability.

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.

How Is Low Back Pain Treated at a Chiropractic Clinic in Phoenix, AZ?

Many low back pain cases stem from subluxations, vertebrae that are misaligned or not moving correctly with the surrounding spine. These misalignments can irritate nerves, leading to arm or leg pain, muscle tightness, and disc problems, and if left untreated they can impair mobility and contribute to chronic pain. Care relies on the precise Gonstead technique, a hands-on method targeting the specific vector of each subluxation, along with gentle instrument-based adjustments using tools like the activator and arthrostim for patients with osteoporosis or a prior surgery. This approach targets the root cause of pain rather than masking symptoms, and it is non-invasive, drug-free, and supportive of the body’s natural healing ability.

Customized therapeutic exercise strengthens weak back muscles, supports spinal stability, corrects muscle imbalances, and restores posture for long-term relief. Massage therapy complements adjustments by relaxing tight muscles so the body can better hold spinal corrections, improving blood flow, reducing tension, and increasing flexibility.

Non-surgical spinal decompression using the DRX 9000 gently stretches the spine and creates negative pressure within the discs, relieving nerve pressure and promoting healing. This clinic has used spinal decompression to treat lower back pain since 2006, with a 90% success rate. Red light therapy is also used to reduce inflammation, boost collagen production, and improve circulation for fast lower back pain relief.

Read Our Online Reviews

Schedule Appointment

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.

What Are the Common Causes of Lower Back Pain in Phoenix, AZ?

Common causes include poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, prolonged sitting, improper workout technique, incorrect lifting and bending, falls, sports injuries, and car accidents. Many patients present with mechanical problems stemming from disc breakdown, muscle spasms, spinal misalignment, and pinched nerves. Herniated, bulging, and slipped discs, along with spinal stenosis, arthritis, and degenerative disc disease, are among the most frequent conditions treated.

Herniated and bulging discs occur when the tough outer layer of a lumbar disc weakens, allowing the gel-like center to push outward and press on spinal nerves. Bulging discs often result from age-related wear, repetitive stress, poor posture, or a sudden injury, causing localized back pain, tingling, numbness, or leg weakness. A herniated disc is more severe: the center ruptures through the outer layer entirely, producing sharp, radiating pain and muscle weakness. Spinal decompression with the DRX 9000 achieves a 90% success rate treating herniated discs with no side effects.

Degenerative disc disease is the gradual breakdown of spinal discs due to aging or chronic stress, reducing hydration and flexibility, lowering disc height, and sometimes leading to bone spur formation. Risk factors include age, genetics, smoking, obesity, and high-impact activity. Regular chiropractic care, a healthy diet, good posture, ergonomics, and exercise are the most effective ways to prevent or slow disc degeneration.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, often caused by bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or herniated discs, producing pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness that worsens with standing or walking. Non-surgical spinal decompression provides relief by improving disc health and reducing spinal pressure without side effects.

Check Out Our Location Near You

2735 W Union Hills Dr #102, Phoenix, AZ 85027

Schedule Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Be Concerned About Low Back Pain?

Occasional mild soreness is common, but pain that is severe, constant, radiates down the legs, causes numbness or tingling, follows an injury, or lasts more than a few weeks often signals a disc-related problem. Early treatment of low back pain is essential to prevent long-term degeneration of the bones and discs. Many patients seek care years after an unresolved injury or accident, sometimes dating back to childhood, that was never properly treated, and these issues become more difficult to correct the longer they are ignored. A yearly spinal check-up is recommended for people without symptoms, and more frequent visits are recommended for anyone with symptoms, a history of injury, or a high-stress lifestyle.

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 Get Started?

This clinic is currently offering a $79 Disc Injury Special that includes a consultation, free MRI review, X-rays, a doctor’s report of findings, and decompression on the second appointment. Full details are on the special offers page. Patients throughout Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale can review the full list of conditions treated, meet the team on the doctors page, or schedule an appointment online or by calling (602) 973-1630. The clinic is located at 2735 W Union Hills Dr #102, Phoenix, AZ 85027.

Schedule Appointment