Understanding Low Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Can Do About It

Dr. Cortney
Nov 11
2 min read

Did you know that two out of every three adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives? Many will then experience reoccurring low back pain.

Back pain, specifically lumbar pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out medical or chiropractic care. But while the experience is common, the way it shows up can be very different from person to person.

What Does Low Back Pain Feel Like?

Low back pain can present in a variety of ways, including:

Muscle aches or tightness
Sharp, stabbing pain
Shooting or radiating pain down the leg
Numbness or tingling (in the back or down the legs/feet)
Difficulty standing upright
Limited flexibility or motion

Some patients arrive at our clinic with a previous diagnosis of sciatica or sciatica-like symptoms, but they’re not quite sure what that means. So let’s clear that up:

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain, numbness, or tingling that travels down the back of the thigh, typically on one side. It’s caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which originates in the lower back.

But here’s the important part, sciatica isn’t the actual problem - it’s a symptom of something deeper.

To truly relieve it, we need to understand what’s causing that nerve irritation in the first place.

Common Causes of Low Back Pain

Low back pain is often multi-factorial. It might stem from:

Sprains or strains
Disc herniations or bulges
Nerve irritation
Muscular imbalances or dysfunction
Arthritis or joint degeneration
Habitual posture and movement patterns

And no, it’s usually not just because you didn’t stretch that day. In fact, sometimes stretching can make it worse! It's definitely not because you are getting older, gained a few pounds or had a baby!

That’s why quick fixes or 10-minute appointments often fall short. Getting to the root of back pain requires time, assessment, and a personalized plan.

How We Treat Low Back Pain at Edge

At Edge Rehab Chiropractic, Dr. Kante specializes in uncovering the real cause of musculoskeletal pain, not just masking symptoms.

Here’s how our process works:

Start with a FREE Discovery Call. You’ll chat with someone from our team for about 20-30 minutes to answer any questions you have and allow us to find out more about what’s going on, your goals, and whether our clinic is the right fit.
Come in for a Full Evaluation. If you’re a candidate for care, we’ll schedule a 60-minute Discovery Visit in clinic with Dr. Kante to assess movement, nerve involvement, and injury patterns.
Receive Personalized, One-on-One Care. Every session is tailored to your body and goals. Your plan may include:
- Adjustments
- Manual therapy
- Movement retraining, rehab and functional exercise