Jordan Loewenstein, D.C. | La Jolla Chiropractor
Most low back pain is not one thing. A disc, a facet joint, the SI joint, a muscle strain and a stiff hip all hurt in roughly the same place and all get called “back pain,” which is why the exam matters more than the label. This is the long version of what I cover on my low back pain page: the seven sources I see most, who tends to get each one, and what the research says about treating them without medication or surgery.
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide — and one of the most undertreated conditions in San Diego, where millions of people manage it with ibuprofen and hope it goes away. It usually doesn’t. Here’s what actually works.
Your back has been talking to you for a while. Maybe it started as stiffness after sitting at your desk all day in Sorrento Valley, or a twinge during your Saturday surf session that never fully went away. Maybe it’s that sciatic ache that shoots down your leg whenever you sit for more than 20 minutes. Whatever it is — you’re not making it up, and it’s not just “part of getting older.”
Low back pain is almost always a mechanical problem. Something is compressing, inflamed, restricted, or imbalanced. The single biggest reason it keeps coming back is that most people treat the symptom (pain) instead of the cause (the joint, disc, or muscle dysfunction behind it).
At my UTC San Diego clinic, Dr. Loewenstein conducts a thorough orthopedic and neurological evaluation on your first visit to identify the specific source of your pain — disc, facet, SI joint, piriformis, posture, or some combination. Treatment follows diagnosis. Not the other way around.
Most low back pain has a specific, identifiable mechanical cause. Dr. Loewenstein’s evaluation narrows this down on visit one so treatment is targeted from day one.
San Diego has a uniquely high-risk low back pain population. Here’s who walks through my door — and why.
Every visit is built around your specific diagnosis — not a generic protocol. Here’s what the process looks like.
Every low back visit starts with range of motion, orthopedic testing and a look at how your pelvis and legs are sitting with you face down. That tells me which of the seven sources I am dealing with before I touch anything.
Treatment on the same visit is heat and e-stim to settle guarding, soft tissue work on the muscles that are holding the pattern, flexion-distraction on the table when a disc is involved, and an adjustment of the stiff segments when the exam supports it. First visits are 45 minutes, follow-ups 30.
I give two or three home exercises matched to the source, not a generic sheet. Recent strains usually settle in a few weeks at once or twice a week; disc cases with leg pain take months, with two to three visits a week early on. Maintenance every four to six weeks is self-care, not a requirement.
Ready to get it looked at? How I treat this at my UTC San Diego office, or book online.
What are the most common causes of low back pain?
Muscle and ligament strain, disc irritation or herniation, facet joint pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, stiff hips, spinal stenosis in older adults, and, less often, referred pain from elsewhere. An exam distinguishes them by where the pain sits and what makes it worse.
Does chiropractic care work for low back pain?
Yes. Spinal manipulation is recommended as a first-line, non-drug option for acute and chronic low back pain by the American College of Physicians, and the evidence is strongest when it is combined with exercise and staying active.
When should I get an X-ray or MRI for back pain?
Not at the start for most people. Imaging is for red flags such as trauma, fever, unexplained weight loss, progressive weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain that has not responded to several weeks of good conservative care.
How long does low back pain take to get better?
Recent strains and joint flares usually improve within two to six weeks. Disc problems with leg pain take two to three months, and the pain usually fades before the disc has fully settled, which is why finishing the plan matters.
Dr. Loewenstein diagnoses the actual source of your pain before treating it — soft tissue work, adjustment, and rehab in one visit. Most major insurance accepted, no packages or contracts.
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