Back Pain Treatment in Lexington, KY
The most common reason patients walk through our door, and the clearest case for diagnosis before treatment.
Why does my back hurt?
"Back pain" is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The pain you feel can come from an irritated disc, a restricted facet joint, a locked sacroiliac joint, or overworked muscle guarding any of the above, and each responds to different treatment. Our examination is built to tell those apart: history, orthopedic and neurological testing, and imaging when your findings call for it.
How do we treat back pain?
The tool is matched to the source:
- Joint restriction: precise chiropractic adjusting restores motion and calms the surrounding nerves.
- Disc involvement: non-surgical spinal decompression unloads the injured disc so it can heal.
- Inflammation and stubborn soft tissue: Class IV laser and shockwave therapy accelerate the biology of repair.
- Instability and recurrence: corrective exercise rebuilds the support system so the fix holds.
What if my back pain keeps coming back?
Recurring episodes usually mean the original source was never corrected, only quieted. A back that "goes out" a few times a year is a stability problem wearing a pain costume, and the durable fix is a complete plan: correct the source, then stabilize it with progressive rehab. That is the structure of every care plan in this office.
Frequently asked questions
When should I see someone about back pain?
If pain has lasted more than a few days, keeps returning, or radiates into a leg, it deserves an examination. Early diagnosis is almost always simpler and cheaper than waiting for an episode to become a pattern.
What causes most back pain?
The usual sources are the discs, the facet joints, the sacroiliac joints, and the supporting muscles, and each one needs different treatment. The examination exists to tell them apart; treating the wrong source is why so much back care fails.
Do I need an X-ray or MRI for back pain?
Not always. Imaging is ordered when the history and examination indicate it, such as trauma, radiating symptoms, or signs of disc involvement. Dr. Pelphrey has post-graduate training in advanced imaging interpretation, so when films are taken, they are read carefully.
Can I avoid surgery for back pain?
Most back pain never needs surgery. Conservative care, including adjusting, spinal decompression for disc cases, and corrective rehab, resolves the majority of cases. When a case genuinely needs a surgical opinion, we say so and refer you to one.
How long does treatment for back pain take?
It depends on the diagnosis, which you will have before care begins, along with a defined plan and timeline. Progress is re-checked against objective benchmarks, and you are released when the goal is reached.
Your back deserves a diagnosis.
Thorough examination first. Honest recommendation second. Treatment only when it is the right tool.