Journey to Overcoming Chronic Lower Back Pain

Nicholas R. came to True Sport Care complaining of episodic lower back pain. He has been suffering from bouts of lower back pain for most of his young adult life. The pain was debilitating—walking, bending over, moving, even taking a full breath felt impossible without sharp, overwhelming discomfort.

Assessment

Nicholas had recently completed a round of physical therapy along with chiropractic treatments elsewhere, and initially felt great—confident even—that he’d finally figured things out. But within a few weeks, his back “kinked” again, undoing his progress.

We started with a comprehensive evaluation to find the root cause of his back pain complaint. During our consultation, something stood out. As he sat, Nicholas instinctively folded one leg underneath him—a position he often adopted while working long hours at his computer. When asked to switch to the opposite leg, he found it awkward and uncomfortable. This asymmetry was a clue.

Digging deeper, Nicholas recalled an old injury from his college years: carrying a friend upstairs in a testosterone-fueled wager. That incident left him with lingering discomfort, and over time, his body had unknowingly adapted through compensatory habits like his asymmetrical sitting posture.

Treatment

Unlike conventional chiropractic approaches that focus solely on spinal alignment, our strategy targeted the root of Nicholas’s problem:

• Targeted Exercises: Core stabilization and flexibility routines tailored to address his specific weaknesses and imbalances.
• Muscle-Focused Therapy: Addressing tension and imbalances with targeted muscle work to relieve stress on affected areas.
• Postural Re-education: A simple yet powerful tip: “Whatever you do on one side, do it on the other.” Nicholas began alternating his seated leg position, sitting upright while driving, and maintaining symmetrical postures throughout the day.
• Ergonomic Adjustments: Small changes to his workstation to support proper alignment.

Outcome

The breakthrough moment? When Nicholas realized he could walk without pain again. After adopting these changes, he stayed flare-up-free for over a year, even while juggling the demands of life with two young kids. The simple shift toward symmetry in daily habits proved transformative.