Non-surgical care for disc injury, nerve impingement, and persistent lower back pain
If your back pain keeps returning, flares with simple movements, or begins traveling into your buttock or leg, you are not alone
Many patients try rest, stretching, medication, or injections and still experience persistent stiffness, sharp pain, or radiating symptoms.
You may notice:
- Pain when sitting or standing too long
- Stiffness when getting out of bed or rising from a chair
- Back pain traveling into the buttock, thigh, or leg (sciatica)
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations
- Weakness or heaviness in the leg
- Flare-ups that seem unpredictable
These symptoms often reflect disc irritation, nerve impingement, muscular guarding, spinal joint restriction, and movement dysfunction that have not yet been addressed together.
Understanding this is the first step toward meaningful improvement.
Understanding back pain and nerve symptoms
Persistent back pain frequently involves a combination of spinal joint dysfunction, disc involvement, muscular tension patterns, and nerve sensitivity.
When discs bulge or spinal spaces narrow, nearby nerves may become irritated, leading to pinched nerve symptoms, sciatica, or radiating leg discomfort.
This is why symptoms may continue even when imaging findings appear mild or when temporary treatments provide short-lived relief.
Back pain and nerve symptoms are often mechanical in nature, meaning spinal loading, movement patterns, and muscular protection strongly influence symptom behavior.
Back conditions we commonly see
- Disc protrusions and bulges
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative spinal arthritis and facet irritation
- Spondylolisthesis and spinal instability
- Nerve impingement and pinched nerves
- Sciatica and radiating leg pain
- Muscle and ligament strain
- Posture-related and occupational overload
- Chronic stiffness and reduced spinal mobility
- Post-traumatic and motor vehicle accident back injuries
- Back pain that has not improved with rest, injections, or prior therapy
Why back pain and sciatica persist
Back and nerve symptoms are rarely caused by a single structure.
- Restricted spinal joint mobility
- Protective muscle guarding and trigger points
- Disc irritation increasing nerve sensitivity
- Narrowing around spinal nerves
- Altered movement patterns and core instability
- Prolonged sitting or repetitive loading
- Nervous system sensitization following injury
When these factors remain present, symptoms may fluctuate but rarely resolve completely.
Our Back Pain & Sciatica Treatment Approach
At Vartanyan Chiropractic, treatment focuses on identifying the specific mechanical and neurological contributors driving your symptoms rather than applying generalized care.
For many patients with disc involvement, spinal stenosis, nerve impingement, or sciatica, Cox Flexion-Distraction Therapy serves as a primary treatment strategy.
Cox Flexion-Distraction Decompression Therapy
Cox therapy is a gentle, controlled spinal decompression technique performed on a specialized flexion-distraction table designed to reduce pressure on spinal discs, joints, and nerve structures.
This approach may help:
- reduce disc pressure and nerve impingement
- improve spinal canal and nerve opening
- decrease sciatic nerve irritation
- reduce protective muscle guarding
- improve mobility without aggressive manipulation
- increase comfort for patients with severe or sensitive symptoms
Supportive Treatment Strategies
Targeted soft tissue therapy
Segment-specific chiropractic adjustments when appropriate
Movement retraining and stabilization exercises
Neurodynamic and nerve desensitization techniques
Supportive therapeutic modalities when indicated
Used to calm irritated tissues and improve comfort during recovery.
How our approach is different
Many tendon treatments focus only on rest or temporary pain relief. Our approach emphasizes:
- Restoring tendon strength and capacity
- Addressing the mechanical cause of overload
- Integrating soft tissue, joint, and movement correction
- Guiding proper return to activity
- Prioritizing long-term resolution rather than repeated flare-ups
This is especially important for patients with chronic tendon pain, gym-related injuries, and repetitive work strain.
What patients commonly notice
- Reduced pain with activity
- Improved strength and function
- Less stiffness at the start of movement
- Improved tolerance to work, exercise, and daily tasks
- Decreased recurrence of symptoms
Progress typically occurs gradually as tendon capacity improves.
Talk to Our Office About Your Back or Sciatica Pain
Contact us today to schedule a visit and learn how we can help you move more comfortably.
Book Appointment Call (805) 552-6865