Low back pain is something lots of people deal with, so if you have it, you’re definitely not the only one. Low back pain is the leading musculoskeletal pain condition and a key source of medical costs and disability worldwide. Statistics show an average of 39% of US adults have LBP in the past 3 months, with 50%–80% reporting a significant episode in their lifetime. Lower back pain affects over 619 million people globally, resulting in $200 billion in medical costs per year. The good news is there are answers. It’s actually one of the biggest reasons people miss work in the United States. Even though it’s so common, people often ignore it or don’t really understand what’s causing it.
In 2018, 62% of US adults reported seeing their primary health care physician for lower back pain. Unfortunately, the standard medical treatment for lower back pain, which commonly includes prescribed medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, as well as invasive therapies like spinal fusions and epidural injections, is often ineffective or of questionable benefit. The study research shows many of the standard treatments impose a risk of significant harm to the patient, such as opioid addiction and related deaths.
Back pain can come from many different parts of the body. Lower back pain is not just a disc problem; it can involve the joint complex, including the joint, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. The tricky part is figuring out exactly which part of the problem is causing it so it can be adequately treated. For example, strained muscles or ligaments might cause localized soreness, while issues with spinal joints and herniated discs can lead to more widespread pain, sometimes even affecting the legs. There are tons of treatments out there, but only a few really work well.
Back pain often begins as a slight ache or a feeling that something is “off,” and it’s easy to brush it aside. But when those minor issues keep returning and go untreated, they can gradually turn into bigger problems. Delaying care can cause your body to compensate in unhealthy ways, forcing other muscles and joints to work harder and eventually leading to chronic pain, reduced mobility, or even long‑term changes in the spine.
Addressing low back pain early helps prevent this cycle. Effective treatment not only eases discomfort but also restores proper alignment and movement, reducing the risk of future flare‑ups. The sooner you tackle the root cause, the better your chances of long‑lasting relief and overall health.
$99 New Patient Special
– Day 1: History review, consultation, nerve scan, exam, and x-rays –
– Day 2: Review exam and x-rays, and adjustment –
– Day 3: Dr’s report of findings, review recommended treatment plan –
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Finally Be Heard
We dedicate time to listen, ensuring we understand the complete picture of your health struggles, lifestyle history, specific goals, and the challenges that have left you feeling limited. We move past the limitations of rushed appointments and generic solutions to build a genuine connection, making sure your unique needs and experiences are the central focus of your entire care plan.
2. Get To The Root Cause Of The Problem
Our team moves beyond temporary symptom management to systematically identify and correct the underlying interferences affecting your body’s ability to heal. We use our three-pillar system—Specific Spinal Correction, Customized Nutrition and Neuro-Feedback Principles—to target the physical, chemical, and neurological issues that are preventing you from thriving and limiting your life.
3. Take Back Control Of Your Health
This step is about implementing the personalized plan and teaching you the principles of lifelong wellness. Through corrective care and educational guidance, we give you the knowledge, tools, and lasting body changes needed to maintain optimal function. This comprehensive approach ensures you feel great now and have the foundation for sustained health and vitality, allowing you to live a full life without limits.
How We Treat Lower Back Pain In Southwest Denver, CO
We offer a conservative, non-invasive approach to addressing low back pain by focusing on exactly where the problem is, how it is affecting your quality of life, and a detailed plan designed to get to the core issue.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Our new patient process spans three visits, so we can fully understand your lower back pain and create the right plan for you.
Visit 1 (Day 1): Getting to Know You
During your first visit, we take the time to learn about you, your health history, and your lower back pain. This visit includes:
- A complete consultation and health history
- A physical examination
- Surface EMG (sEMG) scan to assess muscle and nerve activity
- Orthopedic testing
- X-rays, if needed
Once we have gathered all the necessary information, we will schedule your second visit.
Visit 2 (Day 2): Understanding the Cause
At your second visit, we review all of your results with you, including exam findings, sEMG results, orthopedic tests, and X-rays. We explain what is causing your low back pain and any related symptoms in a clear, easy-to-understand way. Once we identify the source of your lower back pain, we begin care with:
- Specific spinal warm-up exercises
- Your first chiropractic adjustment to start the healing process
- Any additional imaging, if needed
We will then schedule your third visit.
Visit 3 (Day 3): Your Care Plan
At your third visit, we review any additional X-rays and go over your personalized care plan. This plan is designed to help correct spinal issues, stabilize your lower back, and maintain long-term spinal health so you can move and feel your best.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Southwest Denver, CO
At Meridian Health Center, we focus on the subluxation(s) causing your lower back pain and provide corrective chiropractic care to fix the problem. Let’s define what a subluxation is: It is a misalignment or a stuck vertebra in the spine that interferes with standard spinal mechanics, movement, and nerve function. If left uncorrected, lumbar subluxations can contribute to compensation patterns, poor posture, nerve irritation, and even affect symptoms in the lower extremities. A specific corrective chiropractic adjustment helps restore the body’s proper spinal alignment, improve joint mobility, and reduce nerve interference. All this results in decreased pain, improved function, and enhanced overall well-being. Corrective Chiropractic care is far superior to conventional treatment for low back pain because it addresses the root cause of dysfunction rather than masking the symptoms.
Digital X-Rays
X-rays reveal details we can’t see or feel during your physical examination. X-rays provide information on bone alignment, abnormal wear on cartilage and bones that can lead to bone spurs and narrowing, spinal curvature, and signs of long-term stress or degeneration, all of which influence lower back pain. Here at Meridian Health Center, X-rays are a vital tool in accurately diagnosing and addressing lower back pain. The information from X-rays helps us create a personalized treatment plan by allowing us to tailor adjustments, exercises, and corrective strategies to your specific spinal care needs. Having the most accurate information will enable us to provide you with the best treatment for your lower back pain.
Custom Spinal Correction Exercise Plan
In addition to your corrective spinal adjustments, specific corrective spinal exercises are designed to restore proper alignment, improve posture, and reduce low back pain by retraining the body to move and bear weight correctly. These exercises use controlled movements, postural cues, and weighted exercises to gently engage the ligaments and muscles that support the lumbar spine and hips, helping to correct imbalances caused by poor posture, subluxations, or chronic low back pain. Your specific exercises will promote and maintain its natural curves, reducing the stress on discs, joints, and ligaments. Many of our patients notice improved stability, decreased discomfort, and better movement, which complements the chiropractic adjustments.
Spinal Decompression and Traction Therapy
Lower back pain caused by bulging, herniated, or dehydrated discs can irritate nerves, limit mobility, and lead to chronic pain or stiffness. Spinal decompression is another therapy we use to help people with lower back pain. Decompression is a non-surgical approach designed to relieve pressure on discs and surrounding nerves. During decompression, a specialized table gently stretches the spine, creating negative pressure within the discs. This negative pressure encourages disc retraction, promotes fluid and nutrient exchange, and reduces nerve compression. By alleviating pressure on affected discs, spinal decompression can decrease low back pain and improve spinal function. This can help and enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments and corrective exercises.
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Common Causes of Low Back Pain in Southwest Denver, CO
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing lower back pain. When identifying the root cause of a problem, we need to determine what’s actually causing it and address it. Corrective chiropractic care considers all the factors involved and works to correct them so you can achieve the best results. Here are some common causes.
Bulged Lumbar Discs
A bulged lumbar disc occurs when one of the spinal discs in the lower back loses its standard shape and extends outward beyond its usual boundary. I like to think of it like a hamburger patty sticking out past the bun. The disc hasn’t torn or exploded; it’s just squishing out of place. Each disc is made up of a tough outer layer called the annulus fibrosus and a soft, gel-like center known as the nucleus pulposus, which together act as shock absorbers for the spine. A disc bulge develops when ongoing stress, such as poor posture, repetitive bending, lifting, prolonged sitting, injury, or age-related changes, weakens the outer disc layer, causing it to bulge without rupturing. Symptoms of a bulged lumbar disc may include low back pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, or pain that radiates into the hips or legs if nearby nerves are irritated.
Herniated Lumbar Discs
A herniated disc is like a bulging disc, but a step further. Imagine the soft, nucleus pulposus (a jelly‑like center of a disc) in your spine pushing so hard that it actually breaks through the annulus fibrosis (the tougher outer layer)—kind of like squeezing a jelly donut until some of the filling leaks out.
When that inner material pushes out, it can press on nearby nerves, which is why people feel sharp pain, pain that radiates down the leg, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the lower extremities. It usually happens from wear‑and‑tear, lifting something the wrong way, or a sudden twist.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs in your spine slowly wear down. These discs act as shock absorbers, and when they wear out over time, they can no longer protect the spine as well. Everyone’s spinal disks degenerate over time. Some are faster than others, depending on the trauma and/or repetitive motion. When the cushion wears away, the bones can start to rub together, causing pain, stiffness, or discomfort that comes and goes. Despite the name, it’s not actually a “disease,” just regular wear and tear that can cause symptoms.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis happens when the space around your spinal cord or nerves becomes too narrow. This irritates your spinal cord or nerves, which may cause back, leg, or other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness. Spinal stenosis often feels worse when standing or walking for a long time and better when sitting, bending forward, or resting.
SI Joint Pain
The sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, is a joint where your spine connects to your hips, and you have one on each side of your lower back. This joint helps your body stay balanced and lets your upper body move smoothly with your legs when you walk, run, or bend. When the SI joint does not move properly or becomes irritated, it can cause pain in the lower back, hips, or even down the legs, a condition called SI joint pain. This pain can happen after a fall, from poor posture, or from doing the same movements over and over.
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2750 S Wadsworth Blvd suite c 109, Denver, CO 80227
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my back pain is severe?
All back pain should be taken seriously and not ignored, as it can signal problems not just in your lower back but throughout your body. If your low back pain is worsening over time or affecting your ability to perform daily activities, it is essential to seek help right away.
What causes lower back pain?
Many factors, including poor posture, prolonged sitting, lack of movement, muscle strain, joint dysfunction, spinal stress over time, injuries, repetitive motions, spinal misalignment, and disc issues, often cause lower back pain.
How do I tell if lower back pain is muscle or disc-related?
Muscle-related lower back pain often feels sore, tight, or achy and usually improves with rest, stretching, or movement. Disc-related pain is more likely to cause sharp pain, stiffness, or pain that travels into the hips or legs and may worsen with sitting or bending.
How does a slipped disc feel?
A slipped disc often causes sharp or deep pain in the lower back that may radiate into the hips, legs, or buttocks. It can also cause numbness, tingling, or weakness, especially when sitting, bending, or moving a certain way.
Why won’t my lower back pain go away?
Lower back pain may persist if the underlying cause, such as poor posture, spinal misalignment, muscle imbalance, or disc stress, has not been adequately addressed. Without correcting these issues, the body continues to compensate, which can keep the pain and dysfunction.
What is better for lower back pain: a chiropractor or a massage?
A chiropractor is often better for lower back pain because they address the root cause, such as spinal misalignment or joint dysfunction, rather than just relieving muscle tension. Massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments can be a perfect combo for your pain.
Can a Chiropractor in Lakewood/Southwest Denver help with lower back pain?
Absolutely! A chiropractor can play a significant role in relieving back pain by targeting the actual source of the problem. The American College of Physicians recommends that patients initially select non-drug therapy, such as spinal adjustments with exercise, before any other treatment. The use of non‑invasive methods like spinal adjustments to improve alignment, spinal decompression to reduce the disc and nerve pressure, posture correction exercises, to hold and stabilize the joint, and soft‑tissue work to reduce pain and support healing.
Don’t cover up symptoms; aim to fix what’s causing them in the first place. This leads to longer‑lasting relief and better overall spine health. If you’re dealing with back pain, come til to us and let us help you figure out the most effective plan for your situation. The sooner you seek care, the better. Waiting longer can make the problem worse and delay healing.
$99 New Patient Special
– Day 1: History review, consultation, nerve scan, exam, and x-rays –
– Day 2: Review exam and x-rays, and adjustment –
– Day 3: Dr’s report of findings, review recommended treatment plan –
