Low Back Pain Treatment in Mooresville, NC
Low back pain is among the most common reasons people walk into our office on South Broad Street. Some come in after a specific incident, a lift that went wrong, a car accident, or a bad night of sleep on the wrong mattress. Others have been dealing with it for months or years and have gotten used to modifying everything around the pain.
Injured in a car accident? Crash injuries follow a different pattern and are documented for your claim. See Back Pain After a Car Accident in Mooresville.
We treat low back pain at Dudley Chiropractic, Acupuncture and Functional Medicine using chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, spinal decompression, and soft tissue work, depending on what is driving it. The approach is built around what your back actually needs, not a standard protocol.
The source of the pain
Most low back pain comes from one of a few sources: a joint in the spine that is not moving right, a disc that is under pressure or bulging, muscle tension that has built up around a problem area, or a combination of all three. Sciatica, where pain runs down into the leg, usually means a disc or a nerve root is involved. Degenerative disc disease means the discs between the vertebrae have thinned over time and the joint is under more stress than it should be.
The structure of the problem matters because it shapes what kind of treatment makes sense. A joint problem responds well to adjusting. A disc problem often does better with decompression. Muscle tension responds to soft tissue work and dry needling. We start with an exam to figure out which one, or which combination, is driving your pain before we do anything.
Treatment
Chiropractic adjustment. We restore motion to the joints of the low back that have locked up or are not moving well. This takes pressure off the surrounding muscles and nerves and lets the body start recovering. We use several techniques, from manual adjustment to low-force instrument work, and we match the approach to your body.
Spinal decompression. For disc-related pain, herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or sciatica, we use non-surgical spinal decompression. The table gently stretches the spine to create negative pressure inside the disc, which pulls the disc material back toward center and encourages healing. Read more about spinal decompression.
Acupuncture. Acupuncture is effective for both acute and chronic low back pain. It helps calm the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and relax the surrounding muscle tissue. Many patients find it works well alongside adjusting, and we offer a significant discount when you combine services. Read more about acupuncture.
Dry needling. For muscle spasm and trigger points in the low back, dry needling releases the tight bands of tissue that are holding the area in tension. Read more about dry needling.
The course of care
Most patients with straightforward low back pain start to feel improvement within a few visits. Disc-related cases take longer, usually several weeks of consistent care, because the disc itself heals slowly. We track your progress at each visit and adjust the plan when something is not working.
We will also talk through what is going on at home: how you are sleeping, how you are sitting at work, what aggravates it. Those details shape the care as much as what we do in the office.
Common questions
How do I know if my low back pain is a disc problem or a joint problem?
Pain that stays in the low back and moves when you bend or twist is often a joint. Pain that runs into the buttock or down the leg is more likely disc or nerve-related. We confirm with an exam and talk through it before we start treatment.
Do I need an MRI before coming in?
No. Most low back pain does not need imaging to begin care. If we examine you and find something that needs a closer look, we will tell you and refer you for imaging.
Can chiropractic make a herniated disc worse?
Not with the right technique. We adjust our approach based on what is going on with your disc. For active herniations we often use gentler, low-force methods or decompression rather than manual adjustment.
How long does treatment take?
It depends on how long the problem has been there and what is causing it. Acute pain often resolves in a few weeks. Chronic or disc-related cases take longer. We give you a realistic picture at the first visit.
Related conditions: Sciatica | Herniated Disc
Serving Mooresville and the Lake Norman area, including Davidson and Troutman.
Schedule an appointment or call 704-663-2010.
