Low back pain treatment in Cumming & Alpharetta, GA

Common symptoms

• Aching or sharp pain across the lower back or buttock
• Stiffness after sitting, sleeping or driving
• Pain bending, lifting or standing up straight
• Muscle spasm or guarding

Not sure this matches? Use the 30-second pain finder or the full symptom self-check.

What causes low back pain?

Most low back pain is not caused by a single damaged structure. Common contributors include muscle and joint strain, disc irritation, long periods of sitting, deconditioning, stress and poor sleep. Disc bulges and other changes on imaging are common in people with no pain at all, so we treat the person, not just the scan.

If pain travels down your leg, read about sciatica and herniated discs. Back pain lasting longer than three months often responds to the approach described on our persistent pain page.

How we evaluate it

Your first visit is a full 60-minute, 1-on-1 evaluation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and treatment often starts the same day. It can include:

• Movement and posture assessment
• Neurological screening of strength, sensation and reflexes
• Hands-on assessment of spine and hip mobility
• Screening for warning signs that need a physician's care

The pain neuroscience approach to back pain

Typical back programs stop at stretches and core exercises. As a certified Therapeutic Pain Specialist, Dr. Patel also treats how your nervous system is processing pain. Back pain that lingers or keeps coming back is often driven less by damage and more by a protective, sensitized nervous system, shaped by sleep, stress, worry about a scan and fear of bending or lifting.

Pain neuroscience education explains, in plain language, why your back hurts and why it is safe to move. Systematic reviews show it can reduce pain, disability and fear of movement in people with persistent musculoskeletal pain, especially when it is combined with exercise.

What this looks like in your visits

• A clear explanation of your pain, including what your imaging does and does not mean
• Graded exposure to the movements you have been avoiding, such as bending, lifting and sitting for longer
• Hands-on care and exercise to calm sensitivity and rebuild strength
• Sleep, stress and pacing strategies, plus a plan for flare-ups

Your treatment plan

1. Calm it down

   Hands-on care, positions of relief and clear education about what is and is not happening in your back.

2. Build capacity

   Progressive core, hip and back strengthening, with a walking plan matched to your tolerance.

3. Return to full activity

   Lifting, work and sport tasks, plus a plan for handling future flare-ups.

Recovery and what to expect

The APTA low back pain guideline recommends exercise, manual therapy and pain neuroscience education. Many people improve within a few weeks, while pain lasting more than three months usually needs a longer, graded plan. Individual results vary.

Tips for daily life

• Stay as active as you comfortably can; bed rest tends to slow recovery
• Change positions often when sitting for long periods
• Walk daily, starting with short, easy distances
• Use heat if it helps you move more comfortably

When to get urgent care

Questions about low back pain

Related guides

• Herniated disc on your MRI? What the findings really meanWhat disc bulges and degeneration mean, and how often herniations shrink on their own.4 min read · Patients
• Why pain can last after an injury has healedWhy pain can outlast healing, what sensitization feels like, and what actually helps.5 min read · Patients

Browse all guides in our learning center

Related conditions

• SciaticaShooting pain, numbness or tingling down the leg.
• Herniated & bulging discsDisc-related back or neck pain, with or without nerve symptoms.
• Persistent (chronic) painPain lasting 3+ months, treated with pain neuroscience.
• Whiplash & auto accident injuriesNeck, back and head symptoms after a car accident.

References

1. George SZ, et al. Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2021.
2. Qaseem A, et al. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017.
3. Brinjikji W, et al. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2015.
4. Louw A, et al. The efficacy of pain neuroscience education on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review of the literature. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2016.
5. Moseley GL, Butler DS. Fifteen Years of Explaining Pain: The Past, Present, and Future. The Journal of Pain. 2015.

Led by Dr. Manan Patel, PT, DPT, TPSDoctor of Physical Therapy and one of the few certified Therapeutic Pain Specialists in North Atlanta, with 15+ years of outpatient care. Meet Dr. Patel and the team

Where to get treated

Book at either clinic. Same phone number, same team, same 60-minute visits. In-network with Traditional Medicare, BCBS / Anthem and Tricare; Auto MedPay, injury liens and Workers' Comp accepted; or $129 flat-rate visits for self-pay patients and out-of-network plans, including Aetna, Cigna and UHC.