Physical therapy for low back pain

1

Back pain that keeps going out

Flare-ups every few months from bending, lifting, sneezing, or sometimes nothing at all.

2

Fear of bending and lifting

You don't trust your back anymore, so you've stopped deadlifting, stopped picking things up off the floor, and move carefully all day.

3

Constant stiffness and achiness

The low-grade tightness that limits how hard you train and how long you can sit, stand or drive.

4

Disc bulges and herniations

Whether you've had an MRI that showed one or you've just been told “it's probably a disc.”

5

Sciatica and nerve pain

Sharp, burning or electric pain into the buttock or down the leg that's unpredictable and sometimes stops you in your tracks.

The real reason

Why your back keeps getting hurt

Your back is usually the hardest worker in your body. When the rest of your body isn't pulling its weight, the low back picks up the slack. Over time it becomes a tired worker: always on, never getting a break, and the first thing to complain.

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Built on avoidance

Don't bend, don't lift, brace your core, rest when it flares. The fear and the stiffness grow.

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The same handout for everyone

Bridges, clamshells and monster walks, never progressed to match what your life actually asks of you.

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Calming it, not building it

Massage, heat and adjustments can calm a flare. They don't build capacity, so it comes back.

Your evaluation

What happens in a low back evaluation

Picking up his daughter again

A man came in with back pain so debilitating he couldn't pick up his 2-year-old daughter. We got him back to full health and function.

Sciatica that kept coming back

Another man had dealt with recurring sciatica for years. We got rid of his mobility restrictions, and his symptoms went from limiting to barely noticeable.

An honest note

Not everyone gets a perfect, pain-free fix, and anyone who promises you that isn't being straight with you. What you can get back is your life, and you'll understand how your body works so you know how to keep it that way.

“I went to Nevin having fallen into a cycle over recent years of tweaking my back randomly 2-3 times per year despite being what I felt was in very good physical shape… I am grateful to say that I haven't had a major back tweak since.”

Brad B.
Back that kept going out

“My first appointment I could barely move. He analyzed where I needed to focus and customized a plan specifically for me. The next week, I was feeling 70% better… I can now lift my daughter without any aches and pains and I'm back in the gym regularly!”

Christopher W.
Low back pain

“I have had negative experiences in other physical therapy clinics and felt that I couldn't find good treatment for my back pain and spasms that I've dealt with for 8 years… He also urged me to ease back into everyday activities, something I was reluctant to do on my own because of mental fear.”

Alisha J.
8 years of back pain and spasms

Should I avoid bending and lifting?

No. Avoiding movement usually makes the fear and the stiffness worse. We start with what your back tolerates and build from there, so bending and lifting feel normal again.

Can I deadlift again?

If deadlifting is one of your goals, for most people, yes. We work back to it with the right progression, so your hips and legs do the work instead of your back.

Can physical therapy help a herniated disc?

In most cases, yes. Disc bulges and herniations show up on MRIs even in people with no pain, and most improve without surgery. If your evaluation suggests you need a surgeon, I'll tell you.

Why does my back keep going out?

Usually because it's still doing the job your hips and legs should be doing. Until that changes, it stays close to its limit and small things tip it over.

Can physical therapy help sciatica?

Often, yes. Most sciatica comes from an irritated nerve, not a damaged one. We calm it down, give it room to move, and build your tolerance back up. One exception: if you have leg weakness that's getting worse, numbness in the groin or saddle area, or changes in bladder or bowel control, see a physician right away before starting physical therapy.

Do I need an MRI first?

No. Most people don't need imaging to start. If anything in your evaluation suggests you do, I'll tell you.

Do you take insurance?

No. Revenant is cash-based and out-of-network, so every session is 60 minutes, one-on-one. Superbills are available on request.