DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with lower back pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]Lower Back Pain Treatment in Milwaukee, WI
Back pain changing your plans? Let’s look for what’s behind it.
Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee.
Understanding lower back pain
What is lower back pain?
Lower back pain is pain, aching, or stiffness in the area between the bottom of your ribs and the creases at the top of your legs. Sometimes it spreads into one or both legs.1 It can come on suddenly after lifting or twisting, or build slowly from long hours of sitting, repetitive work, or wear on the spine.
Most new episodes improve within a few weeks.2 Pain that keeps coming back, or lasts longer than 12 weeks, is worth a closer look. So is pain that gets in the way of sleep, work, or the things you enjoy.
Symptoms
Lower back pain symptoms: what you may notice
Lower back pain feels different from person to person, and it can change from day to day.
- Back
Dull ache or stiffness
A steady ache across the low back that makes it hard to get comfortable.
- Movement
Sharp pain with movement
Bending, lifting, or twisting brings on a sudden, sharp pain.
- Sitting
Pain when sitting
Pain builds the longer you sit at a desk, in the car, or on the couch.
- Morning
Morning stiffness
Your back feels tight when you get out of bed, then loosens as you move.
- Muscles
Muscle spasms
The muscles beside your spine tighten or cramp, sometimes without warning.
- Hips
Pain into the buttock or hip
Aching that spreads from the low back into one buttock or hip.
- Legs
Pain down the leg
Pain that travels below the knee can mean an irritated nerve, often called sciatica.
- Nerves
Tingling or numbness
In a leg or foot. Mention it to your doctor right away.
- Posture
Trouble standing up straight
Leaning forward or to one side feels easier than standing tall.
- Sleep
Trouble sleeping
Pain makes it hard to find a comfortable position at night.
Pain that runs down the leg is often called sciatica. Your exam helps show whether a nerve is involved.
When to seek medical care first
Most lower back pain isn’t dangerous. A few warning signs can point to a rare but serious problem: pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine. It needs emergency care. Doctors call it cauda equina syndrome.4 Once a medical provider has cleared you, we’re here to help with the pain and stiffness that often linger.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:
- Numbness in your groin, inner thighs, buttocks, or around your genitals
- New trouble urinating, or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Weakness in one or both legs that’s getting worse
- Severe back pain after a serious fall, car crash, or other injury
See a medical provider promptly if back pain comes with:
- A fever
- Weight loss you can’t explain
- Pain that’s severe or keeps getting worse, especially at night3
Causes
What causes lower back pain?
Your lower back carries much of your body’s weight and does a lot of the work when you bend, lift, and twist. Common causes include:3
Strained muscles or ligaments
Bulging or herniated discs
Stiff or restricted joints
Arthritis
Long hours of sitting
Lifting, twisting, or repetitive work
Car accidents, sports, and falls
Snow shoveling and icy falls
Back pain after a crash? See our car accident injuries and whiplash pages.
What can raise your risk
Physically demanding or repetitive work
Lifting heavy loads or repeating fast movements on the job is a major risk factor.1
Excess weight
Extra body weight adds strain to the joints and discs of the lower back.1
Smoking
Smoking is one of the main risk factors tied to disability from low back pain.1
Age and activity level
Low back pain becomes more common with age, and long stretches of inactivity can leave the back stiff and weak.1
Wisconsin winters
Snow shoveling is a common cause of winter back injuries. Across the U.S., it sends an average of 11,500 people to the emergency room each year, and the lower back is the most frequently injured area.6 Icy sidewalks and driveways add the risk of falls.
Around Greater Milwaukee, physically demanding work includes manufacturing, warehouse, and health care jobs, and long desk days and commutes take a toll too. We accept workers’ compensation, and we offer workplace wellness programs for local employers.
How long it has lasted
Is your back pain new, lingering, or chronic?
Doctors describe lower back pain by how long it has lasted: new (acute), lingering (subacute), or chronic.2 The type helps shape how your care begins.
| Type | How long | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| New | Less than 4 weeks | Often follows a strain or a specific activity. Many people improve within a few weeks. |
| Lingering | 4 to 12 weeks | Pain that’s hanging on. A good time for an exam if you haven’t had one. |
| Chronic | More than 12 weeks | Ongoing or recurring pain. Care usually focuses on movement, strength, and daily habits. See living with chronic pain. |
Your care
How chiropractic care helps lower back pain
Your chiropractor for lower back pain starts by listening: when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it’s affecting your day. Then your doctor looks for what’s behind it, with a full exam and X-rays only if your exam calls for them.
Your doctor explains what they found and talks through care options with you. You decide what’s right for you.
Care is natural and drug-free, designed around your condition, your medical history, your daily life, and your goals.
What the research says
Leading U.S. physician guidelines recommend natural, drug-free care first. For new back pain, that includes heat, massage, and spinal adjustments. For chronic back pain, it includes exercise, rehab, and spinal adjustments.2
Why staying active matters
For new back pain, people who stay active tend to improve a little more than those who rest in bed.5 Your doctor can help you find movement that feels manageable.
What your care may include
Good to know
If you don’t want your back adjusted
Say so, and your doctor won’t. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other ways to get where you want to go. You choose your care.
Hands-on
Chiropractic adjustments
Gentle, targeted adjustments help restore motion to joints in the lower back that have become stiff or restricted.
Gentle option
Mobilization
Slow, controlled movements help loosen a stiff back when a full adjustment isn’t the right fit.
Rehab
Strengthening and movement
Guided exercises build the core and hip muscles that support your lower back.
Select clinics
Physical therapy
Available at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.
Select clinics
Massage therapy
Available at our Hales Corners and Oconomowoc clinics.
All 20+ locations
Custom foot orthotics
If your exam suggests your feet or posture play a role, your doctor may talk with you about custom orthotics.
Between visits
Sitting, lifting, and sleep guidance
Practical tips for your desk, your car, and your bed help protect your back between visits.
Recovery
How long does lower back pain last?
Most new episodes of lower back pain improve over a few weeks.2 Pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks is considered chronic, and it often comes and goes rather than staying the same.
Your timeline depends on what’s causing the pain, how long you’ve had it, your work and daily demands, and how your body responds to care. Your doctor checks your progress along the way and adjusts your plan as you improve.
A few weeks
is how long most new episodes take to improve.2
Insurance and your first visit
Care that fits your coverage
We’re in-network with most insurance plans, including Medicare, and our team can check your benefits before you come in. No insurance? New patients can start with the $29 first visit.
New-patient special
visit
$29*
Firstvisit
With insurance
In-network with most insurance companies
- Most commercial plans
- Medicare
- Auto accident claims
- Workers’ compensation
Your first visit
What to expect at your first visit
Share your story
Your doctor asks when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals.
Get a thorough exam
Your doctor checks how your back and hips move, where it’s tender, and the strength, reflexes, and sensation in your legs. X-rays are taken if needed.
Talk through your options
Your doctor explains what they found and walks you through care options. You decide what's right for you.
Begin care at your next visit
Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
You'll see the same doctor as your care continues, so the person treating you knows your history and your progress.
Your care team
Meet Milwaukee chiropractors who treat lower back pain
Our chiropractors care for lower back pain every day. These doctors bring backgrounds that fit patients with back pain.
DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with lower back pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]DC
[Doctor name], DC
DC · [Clinic][One or two sentences on this doctor’s background with lower back pain.]
More about Dr. [Name]
Why Milwaukee trusts us
Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982
Personal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.
400,000+
Patients cared for
1,400+
Five-star Google reviews
20+
Neighborhood clinics
1982
Serving Greater Milwaukee since
- Best of MilwaukeeRecognized 13 years
- Top Choice AwardsRecognized 7 years
- UWM AthleticsOfficial chiropractors since 2019
Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about lower back pain
Many patients find chiropractic care helps them move more comfortably. Leading physician guidelines list spinal adjustments among the drug-free options to try first, for both new and chronic back pain. Your doctor looks for what’s behind your pain, then talks through options like adjustments, gentle joint movement, and exercise.
Most new episodes improve within a few weeks, and pain that lasts more than 12 weeks is considered chronic. See how long lower back pain lasts for what affects your timeline.
For most new back pain, staying active tends to work a little better than bed rest. Keep up your normal activities as much as you comfortably can, and avoid movements that clearly make the pain worse. Your doctor can help you find movement that feels manageable.
Heat has the strongest research support for new lower back pain, and many people find it relaxes tight muscles. Some people prefer ice in the first day or two after a strain. Use whichever feels better, for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, and protect your skin.
Sitting for long stretches puts steady pressure on the discs and muscles of the lower back, especially if you slouch or sit without support. Getting up to move every 30 minutes or so and adjusting your chair often helps. Your doctor can look at how you sit and move.
Yes. Snow shoveling is one of the most common causes of winter back injuries, and the lower back is the area most often hurt.6 To protect your back, push snow instead of lifting it, take small loads, bend at your knees, and take breaks. Shoveling is also hard on the heart. If you feel chest pain or pressure while shoveling, stop and call 911. If you don’t exercise regularly or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before you shovel.
Both can help, and they often work well together. Chiropractic care helps restore movement in stiff joints, while physical therapy builds strength and stability. Physical therapy is available at Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North, so your doctor can talk through a combined plan when it makes sense.
Not always. Most lower back pain doesn’t need imaging. Your doctor decides based on your history, your symptoms, and your exam. When needed, X-rays are taken right in the clinic.
Tell your doctor and they won’t. Gentle joint movement, muscle work, and exercise are other ways to care for lower back pain. Your doctor explains the options, and you decide what’s right for you.
Often, yes. Same-day appointments are available at many of our clinics, depending on the day and each clinic’s hours. Call your nearest clinic or request an appointment online to check today’s openings. Your first visit is for your consultation and exam, and treatment typically begins at your next visit.
Usually not. Your first visit is for listening, a full exam, and X-rays if needed. Treatment begins at visit two. In acute cases, your doctor may decide same-day treatment is appropriate.
No referral is needed. Some insurance plans may require one for full benefits. Our team checks your plan when you verify your insurance and lets you know before your visit.
Eligible new patients can request a first visit for $29, including a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. The offer requires requesting an appointment online and a visit within five business days. Medicare and Medicaid patients aren’t eligible.
Chiropractic Company has 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee, and every one offers chiropractic care for lower back pain. Find a location close to your home or work.
Milwaukee-area chiropractic clinics near you
Find lower back pain care near you: 20+ locations
Every clinic offers chiropractic care for lower back pain, close to home or work.
Milwaukee
- Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee East2332 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211(414) 223-4550 - Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee North10855 W Park Place #9
Milwaukee, WI 53224(414) 359-0300 - Chiropractic Company of Milwaukee Third Ward140 S 1st St #101
Milwaukee, WI 53204(414) 271-1717
North
- Chiropractic Company of Shorewood3510 N Oakland Ave #201
Shorewood, WI 53211(414) 962-0700 - Chiropractic Company of Glendale5306 N Port Washington Rd
Glendale, WI 53217(414) 332-0859 - Chiropractic Company of Mequon11129 N Wauwatosa Rd
Mequon, WI 53097(414) 354-5377 - Chiropractic Company of CedarburgW57N14280 Doerr Way #101
Cedarburg, WI 53012(262) 377-3240 - Chiropractic Company of Grafton1664 7th Ave
Grafton, WI 53024(262) 377-2400 - Chiropractic Company of GermantownW164N11269 Squire Dr
Germantown, WI 53022(262) 250-1948
West
- Chiropractic Company of Brookfield1905 N Calhoun Rd #115
Brookfield, WI 53005(262) 782-2273 - Chiropractic Company of Menomonee FallsPhysical therapyN96 W18743 County Line Rd
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051(262) 253-6779 - Chiropractic Company of WaukeshaPhysical therapy161 W Sunset Dr
Waukesha, WI 53189(262) 549-0606 - Chiropractic Company of OconomowocMassage1300 N Summit Ave #201
Oconomowoc, WI 53066(262) 244-5004 - Chiropractic Company of New Berlin12414 W National Ave
New Berlin, WI 53151(262) 785-1344
South and southwest
- Chiropractic Company of West Allis2255 S 108th St
West Allis, WI 53227(414) 327-6767 - Chiropractic Company of West Allis NorthPhysical therapy10025 W Greenfield Ave #100
West Allis, WI 53214(414) 258-9777 - Chiropractic Company of Greenfield4600 W Loomis Rd #110
Greenfield, WI 53220(414) 321-2273 - Chiropractic Company of Hales CornersMassage6278 S 108th St
Hales Corners, WI 53130(414) 327-6400 - Chiropractic Company of Franklin10068 W Loomis Rd
Franklin, WI 53132(414) 525-9895 - Chiropractic Company of MuskegoW189S7773 Racine Avenue
Muskego, WI 53150(262) 679-2060 - Chiropractic Company of Cudahy3552 E Barnard Ave
Cudahy, WI 53110(414) 482-1776
Start today
Back pain shouldn't keep you from doing what you love.
Let a doctor close to home listen, look for what's behind your back pain, and talk through care that fits your life.
More life in every day.
Keep reading
Learn more about back pain
Related conditions
Related services
- Chiropractic care
- Physical therapy (Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, West Allis North)
- Massage therapy (Hales Corners, Oconomowoc)
- Custom foot orthotics
Sources
- GBD 2021 Low Back Pain Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990–2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2023.
- Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA. 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;166(7):514–530.
- Mayo Clinic. Back pain: Symptoms and causes.
- Cleveland Clinic. Cauda Equina Syndrome.
- Dahm KT, Brurberg KG, Jamtvedt G, Hagen KB. Advice to rest in bed versus advice to stay active for acute low-back pain and sciatica. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2010.
- Watson DS, Shields BJ, Smith GA. Snow shovel–related injuries and medical emergencies treated in US EDs, 1990 to 2006. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2011;29(1):11–17.