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Dr. Kevin Tomassini DC
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Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common things I see — and most of the time, it's not random. There's a reason behind it. Once we find the reason, we can fix it.

▶︎ Why Do You Have Low Back Pain? — from Dr. Tomassini's YouTube channel

What’s actually going on

Here’s the thing. In your lower back — the lumbar spine — you’ve got bones called vertebrae, and in between them you’ve got discs. The disc is like a shock absorber between the bones of the spine. Think about it as the jelly donut, okay — outside there’s cartilage, inside there’s a gel.

Now, when you have poor posture, or you’re sitting all day, or there’s a misalignment, you put uneven pressure on that jelly donut. The gel wants to push to one side. On top of that, the misaligned joints restrict movement, there’s nerve pressure, there’s muscle tension — and that can lead to the pain you’re feeling.

What it can lead to

If you ignore it and just keep masking it with painkillers, that uneven pressure can lead to the disc getting thinner, then bulging, and that can lead to numbness or burning radiating down the leg. We don’t want that. And remember — surgery should be the last resort.

What you’re going to do about it

  1. Fix your sitting. All the way back in the chair, both feet on the ground, and don’t sit on your wallet — that misaligns the pelvis.
  2. Cat-cow. On hands and knees, slowly arch and round the lower back. Ten slow reps, two to three times a day.
  3. Knee-to-chest stretch. Lying down, bring one knee to the chest, hold 20–30 seconds, three times each side.
  4. Glute bridges. Three sets of ten to fifteen, every other day. Weak glutes overload the lower back.
  5. Move. Don’t sit more than 30–40 minutes at a stretch.

This didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t fix overnight. Consistency, consistency, consistency.

Common questions

What causes low back pain? +

Most low back pain comes from poor posture, prolonged sitting, or a misalignment that puts uneven pressure on the discs and joints. The disc is like a shock absorber between the bones of the spine — think of it like a jelly donut. Uneven pressure makes the gel inside push to one side, and that, plus nerve pressure and muscle tension, can lead to pain.

Do I need surgery for low back pain? +

Most of the time, no. Surgery should be the last resort. A proper consultation and physical examination come first. Many patients told they need surgery recover with chiropractic care combined with targeted exercise.

What can I do right now for low back pain? +

Fix how you sit — all the way back in the chair, feet on the ground, don't sit on your wallet. Do gentle cat-cow mobility and knee-to-chest stretches, and start glute bridges to take the load off your lower back. But if you have leg numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder control, see a doctor right away.

Stop masking it. Let's find the cause.

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