Condition · Low Back Pain · Buford GA
Most low back pain is mechanical and resolves with conservative care. The slow part is figuring out which mechanical type you have. Muscular, disc, facet, or SI joint each need a different plan.
Low back pain is the most common reason people see a chiropractor. Most cases are mechanical, meaning the source is in the muscles, joints, discs, or ligaments of the lower spine. About 80 percent of acute mechanical cases resolve in 6 weeks with appropriate conservative care. The slow part isn't recovery, it's diagnosis.
Diagnosis
Each type has a different physical exam signature, a different pain pattern, and a different best-fit treatment. Most patients don't fit cleanly into one bucket. We figure out the primary driver first.
Red flags
Emergency
See your physician first
Treatment
/01 Diagnose
A 60-minute new-patient visit. Full history, neurological exam, orthopedic testing. We map your pain to the most likely driver before we touch you.
/02 Reduce
Manual therapy, manipulation, soft-tissue work, and decompression where indicated. The first goal is reducing pain enough that you can move and rehab.
/03 Rebuild
Glute activation, hip mobility, neutral-spine core work. The disc, facet, and SI joint all heal better when surrounded by muscles that actually fire.
/04 Return
Sport-specific or job-specific loading. Lifting mechanics. We don't discharge you until you can do what you need to do without flaring it back up.
By the numbers
Low back pain affected an estimated 619 million people worldwide in 2020 and remains the leading cause of disability on the planet, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2021 analysis in The Lancet Rheumatology (2023).
The American College of Physicians guideline (Annals of Internal Medicine, 2017) recommends starting with non-drug treatments for most low back pain, and lists spinal manipulation among them alongside heat, massage, and exercise. That is the approach we take: conservative care first, with a clear plan and a clear point at which we would refer you elsewhere.
Back pain chiropractor in Buford
Every evaluation is done by a doctor, not an assistant. Dr. Joe Krzemien, D.C. has 23 years in practice in Buford, has been the Atlanta Dream team chiropractor for 10 seasons and counting, served the Atlanta Falcons for 13 NFL seasons, and was inducted into the Professional Football Chiropractic Society Hall of Fame in 2025.
FAQ
What causes low back pain?
Most low back pain falls into four mechanical categories: muscular strain, disc-related (herniated, bulging, or degenerative), facet-joint pain, and sacroiliac (SI) joint pain. Each has a different physical exam signature and a different treatment plan. Less common causes include spondylolysis, inflammatory conditions, and referred pain from organs. The first job is figuring out which type you have.
How do I know if my low back pain is serious?
Most low back pain is mechanical and resolves with conservative care. Red flags that warrant urgent medical evaluation include progressive weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, saddle numbness, unexplained weight loss with the pain, fever, pain that wakes you from sleep, or sudden severe pain after significant trauma. If any of these apply, see a doctor or ER, not us.
How long does it take to resolve?
Acute mechanical low back pain typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks with conservative care. Disc-related cases run 6 to 12 weeks. Chronic cases (longer than 12 weeks) are usually multi-factorial. We give you a realistic estimate at the first visit.
Should I rest or stay active?
Stay active within tolerance. Bed rest beyond 1 to 2 days actually slows recovery. Walk. Avoid the specific positions and movements that flare your symptoms. We'll give you a list of what to do and what to avoid based on your case.
Do I need an MRI?
For most acute mechanical low back pain, no. Imaging is indicated when there are red flag symptoms, when there's clear nerve root involvement, or when conservative care has not produced enough improvement after 6 weeks.
What's the best treatment?
There's no single answer because there's no single condition. Muscular strain responds to soft-tissue work and a return-to-activity plan. Facet joint pain responds to manipulation and rehab. Disc-related pain often responds to non-surgical decompression. SI joint pain responds to manipulation plus targeted strength work. The plan matches the diagnosis.
Is a chiropractor good for lower back pain?
For most mechanical low back pain, conservative care including spinal manipulation is a first-line option in the American College of Physicians guideline. We combine adjustments with soft-tissue work and exercise, and we screen for red flags that need medical care instead.
How many visits will I need for back pain?
It depends on the type and how long you have had it. We give you an expected number of visits and a timeline at the first appointment, then recheck progress against it. If you are not improving on schedule, we change the plan or refer you.
Can back pain cause leg pain?
Yes. When a disc or joint irritates a nerve root, pain can travel into the buttock and leg. That is usually called sciatica, and it needs a slightly different plan than back pain alone.
A 60-minute new-patient evaluation. We figure out which mechanical type you have and build the plan around that.