Lower Back Pain Treatment: Dr. Travis Arrington’s Perspective

How We Treat Lower Back Pain In Sandy, UT

Shockwave

What is ShockWave treatment?

ShockWave is a handheld device that fires fast acoustic pulses deep into tight muscles, tendons, and ligaments—like a mini jackhammer that breaks up scar tissue, wakes up healing cells, and floods the area with fresh blood. It’s non-invasive, FDA-cleared, and one of the fastest ways to get stubborn low-back pain to finally let go.

How does it work for low back pain?

We run it along the glutes, piriformis, QL, and erectors where most low backs get locked up—those pulses shatter the knots, drop inflammation, and tell your brain “the danger is over” so the whole area stops guarding. Combined with adjustments, it’s like hitting reset on years of compensation in just a few sessions.

What are its effects?

Most people feel looser right away; by session 3–6, pain drops 70–90 %, mobility comes back, and the adjustments hold way longer because the muscles aren’t fighting us anymore. It also speeds disc and tissue healing, so you’re not just masking pain—you’re actually fixing the problem.

What is a ShockWave session like?  What does it feel like?

You lie comfortably while we glide the applicator over the sore spots with gel—it’s 5–10 minutes of rapid tapping that feels intense but tolerable (think deep sports massage on steroids). Some spots make you go “whoa,” but afterward you stand up taller and usually say, “I haven’t felt that loose in years.”

Common Causes of Low Back Pain in Sandy, UT

Bulged Lumbar Discs

Briefly explain the anatomy of a disc.

Your disc is like a tough jelly donut—there’s a soft gel center (nucleus) surrounded by a thick, fibrous ring (annulus) that sits between each vertebra to absorb shock and let you bend.

Describe a disc bulge.

A bulge is when that outer ring weakens and the gel pushes out evenly all around, like a tire with a slow leak—it’s not ruptured yet, but it’s pressing on nerves and creating inflammation.

What are the causes of a bulged disc?

Years of bad posture, repetitive bending/twisting, weak core, old injuries, and subluxations that overload one side until the disc finally gives.

What are the symptoms of a bulged disc?

Deep low-back ache, sharp pain with bending or sitting, sciatica down one leg, numbness/tingling, and sometimes weakness in the foot.

What is the best treatment for a disc bulge?

Precise adjustments to unload the disc, ShockWave to drop inflammation fast, custom core rehab to hold the fix, and anti-inflammatory lifestyle—80–90 % of our patients avoid surgery and get back to the mountain.

Herniated Lumbar Discs

How is a herniated disc different from a disc bulge?

A herniation is when the outer ring actually tears and the gel squirts out to one side (think donut exploding), pressing harder on nerves than a simple bulge.

How are the symptoms different?

Herniations when they hit,  hit harder—intense shooting leg pain (sciatica), burning, numbness, and sometimes foot drop because the nerve is getting crushed instead of just irritated. 70% of people walk around with a herniation that is asymptomatic, best to get an all system check before it anything happens.

What is the best treatment for disc herniation?

Gentle flexion-distraction adjustments to create negative pressure and suck the herniation back in, ShockWave to calm the angry nerve, and specific rehab—most of our “I was told I need surgery” patients walk out pain-free in 6–12 weeks.

Degenerative Disc Disease

What is degenerative disc disease?

It’s just wear-and-tear aging of the discs—less water in the gel, cracks in the ring, and less cushion between vertebrae, basically the spine’s version of hair loss or wrinkles.  

How does it affect the discs?

Discs get thinner, stiffer, and less shock-absorbing, so bones start rubbing and joints get cranky faster.

What are the risk factors?

Genetics, smoking, heavy lifting with bad form, being overweight, and years of uncorrected subluxations that speed the breakdown.

How does it affect the body?

Stiffness first thing in the morning, pain after sitting or standing too long, and eventually bone spurs or stenosis if you ignore it.

How do you help care for DDD at White Bison Well-being?

We slow the wear with gentle adjustments, ShockWave to keep inflammation low, core stability training, and anti-inflammatory nutrition—patients say they feel 10–15 years younger in their spine.

Spinal Stenosis

What is spinal stenosis?  

Stenosis is when the spinal canal or nerve exits get too narrow—your spinal column is a stack of 33 vertebrae with a central canal for the spinal cord and little side holes for nerves; arthritis, disc collapse, or bone spurs shrink those spaces.

What are the symptoms of stenosis?

Pain, numbness, or heaviness in the legs that gets worse walking (neurogenic claudication) but eases when you sit or lean forward—like shopping-cart sign.

What makes it better and what makes it worse?

Better: bending forward, sitting, or lying curled up; 

Worse: standing straight, walking downhill, or arching backward.

What is the best treatment for stenosis?

Flexion-based adjustments + decompression to open the canal, ShockWave to calm irritated nerves, and core work—many of our stenosis patients ditch the walker and get back on the trails.

Muscle Strain

What is a muscle strain?

Tiny tears in the muscle fibers from lifting wrong, twisting too fast, or just being overly tight and fatigued.

What causes muscle strain?

Sudden moves, weak core, cold muscles, or compensating for a subluxation that’s been there forever.

How do muscle strains heal?

Rest, gentle movement, ShockWave to speed blood flow, and fixing the joint problem so the muscle isn’t asked to guard 24/7.

Could they be symptoms of something else?

All the time—most “strains” that never heal are actually guarding a deeper subluxation or disc issue.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)

What is the sacroiliac joint? 

The two big wings on your pelvis that lock into the sacrum—like the foundation where your spine meets your legs.

What is it responsible for?

Transferring all the force from your legs up to your spine when you walk, run, or lift.

How can it be the source of low back pain?

If one side gets stuck or too loose, it creates sharp pain right over the dimple in your low back, butt pain, or even sciatica that no one can figure out.

What is the best treatment for SI joint pain?

Precise adjustment to the SI joint itself (sometimes with a drop table), ShockWave to the ligaments, and glute/hip stability drills—patients usually feel the difference quickly.

Facet Joint Dysfunction

What are facet joints?

Little gliding joints on the back of each vertebra that control how far you can bend and twist.

How can they lead to low back pain?

When they get stuck or overloaded, they swell up and fire sharp pain, especially when you stand tall or lean backward, turning simple movements into a stab-fest.

How do you care for this cause of low back pain?

We free the jammed facet with a precise adjustment, blast the inflammation with ShockWave, and give you simple moves to keep it gliding—most people feel the lock disappear in just a couple visits.

Subluxation

What is a subluxation?

A vertebra that’s lost its normal motion or alignment and is irritating the nerves coming out of your spine. It’s a communication problem between the brain and body. 

What effect do they have on the body?

Your brain goes into protection mode—tight muscles, weak muscles, pain signals, and eventually disc or joint breakdown if ignored. Longer term symptoms include fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety and more. 

How do you find and correct subluxations?

We check functional leg length, posture, motion palpation, and sometimes digital scans, then deliver a precise adjustment (by hand or with the Integrator) to restore motion and calm the nerve.

What effect does a chiropractic adjustment have on the body?

It instantly tells your brain “threat over,” muscles relax, inflammation drops, and healing switches back on—patients stand taller and breathe easier in seconds.

Why are chiropractors the best practitioner to correct a subluxation?

We spend years mastering the art and science of finding and fixing these exact spinal segments safely and specifically—no one else is trained to deliver that kind of neurological reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should I be worried about lower back pain?

Worry when you get numbness or tingling down your leg, can’t control your bladder/bowel, the pain shoots past your knee, or it’s so bad you can’t stand up straight—those are red-flag moments that need checking fast.

2. What can I do to relieve my lower back pain in Sandy, UT?

Come see us at White Bison Well-Being—we’ll find the stuck joint or pattern, adjust it, hit it with ShockWave, and give you moves that actually fix it instead of white knuckling it for a day.

3. How do I know if my back pain is serious?

If it’s constant, wakes you at night, gets worse with rest, or comes with fever, unexplained weight loss, or leg weakness, that’s serious—call us or your MD the same day.

4. What causes lower back pain?

Usually a stuck joint (subluxation), tight muscles compensating for it, disc pressure, or old injuries your brain never let go of—modern sitting life just pours gas on the fire.

5. How should I sleep with lower back pain?

Side-sleepers put a pillow between your knees; back-sleepers slide one under your knees—both keep your spine neutral so you don’t wake up feeling like you got hit by a truck.

6. How do I tell if lower back pain is muscle or disc-related?

Muscle pain feels sore and stiff but eases with stretching; disc pain shoots down the leg, gets worse with sitting or bending forward, and often comes with numbness or pins-and-needles.

7. How does a slipped disc feel?

Sharp or burning pain down one leg, worse when you cough/sneeze/sit, and sometimes the leg feels weak or tingly—like your low back is pinching a live wire.

8. Why won’t my lower back pain go away?

Because whatever’s stuck or irritated keeps getting re-aggravated every day—until you fix the joint motion and calm the nerve, it’s just waiting for the next trigger.

9. Can a Chiropractor in Sandy, UT help with lower back pain?

100 %—Dr. Travis at White Bison Well-Being has people walking out taller and pain-free who were told they needed surgery or a lifetime of pills.

10. What is better for lower back pain: a chiropractor or a massage?

Massage feels great on tight muscles; chiropractic fixes the brain signal that’s making those muscles tight in the first place—get both and you’ll actually stay fixed.

11. When should I see a Chiropractor in Sandy, UT for lower back pain?

The minute it lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or stops you from hiking, golfing, or playing with your kids—don’t wait for it to become your new normal.

12. How can you tell if your spine is out of alignment?

One leg looks shorter when you lie down, your head tilts, shoulders are uneven, or you feel stiff and crooked—most people notice it in photos or when their favorite jeans fit weird.

Common Causes of Low Back Pain in Sandy, UT

Bulged Lumbar Discs

The anatomy of a disc

Imagine a disc in your spine is like a jelly donut. The outer part is called the annulus, and it’s like the tough, chewy outside of the donut. Inside, there’s a soft, squishy center called the nucleus, which is like the jelly inside the donut. The disc sits between the bones in your spine and helps to cushion and absorb shocks when you move, like jumping or running.

A disc bulge happens when the soft, jelly-like center inside the disc pushes out through a crack or weak spot in the tough outer part. It’s like if you press too hard on a jelly donut, and some of the jelly starts to squeeze out. This bulging can press on nearby nerves, which can cause pain or make your back feel sore.

What are the causes of a bulged disc?

A disc bulge can happen if you lift something too heavy or twist your back in an odd way. It can also occur as you get older because the discs in your spine get less flexible. Sitting or standing in a bad posture for a long time or doing repetitive movements can also put abnormal pressure on the discs and make them bulge.

What are the symptoms of a bulged disc?

If you have a disc bulge, you might feel pain in your back that can spread to your legs or arms. You might also have numbness or a tingling feeling, like pins and needles, in those areas. Sometimes, it can make it hard to move or bend without feeling discomfort.

What is the best treatment for a disc bulge?

Chiropractic care is a great treatment for a disc bulge because chiropractors can help correct the alignment of your spine, which can relieve the pressure on the bulging disc. We use gentle adjustments to help the disc go back into place and make your back feel better. The doctor will also give you exercises and tips to keep your spine healthy and prevent future problems.

Herniated Lumbar Discs

How is a herniated disc different from a disc bulge?

A disc bulge is when the soft center of the disc pushes out a little bit through the outer layer, but it doesn’t break through. A herniated disc is when the soft center actually breaks through the outer layer and can press on nearby nerves. Both can cause back pain, but a herniated disc usually causes more severe pain because the inner part is pushing out more.

How are the symptoms different?

The symptoms of a disc bulge might include back pain and some tingling or numbness, but it’s usually less severe. A herniated disc can cause stronger pain and more serious problems, like sharp pain that travels down your leg or arm, and more intense numbness. Because the inner part of the disc is pushing out more, it often irritates the nerves more and can make moving harder.

What is the best treatment for disc herniation?

For a herniated disc, one of the best treatments is chiropractic care because it helps fix the alignment of your spine and can reduce pain. Chiropractors at White Bison Well-being use special adjustments to help the herniated disc move back into place and relieve pressure on the nerves. Often rest

Degenerative Disc Disease

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition where the discs in your spine start to wear down over time, which can happen as you get older. These discs act like cushions between the bones in your spine, helping you move and bend without pain. When they degenerate, they can become thinner, lose their flexibility, or even develop small cracks, leading to pain and discomfort in your back or neck.

How does it affect the discs?

DDD affects the discs by causing them to lose water and become less flexible, which makes them not work as well as they should. As the discs degenerate, they may not cushion the bones in the spine properly, leading to more pressure on the spinal joints. This can cause the discs to become flatter and not provide enough support, resulting in pain or stiffness and making it harder to move.

What are the risk factors?

If degenerative disc disease is left untreated, it can lead to several risk factors. People may experience chronic pain that doesn’t go away and might have trouble doing everyday activities like walking, sitting, or lifting things. Over time, untreated DDD can also lead to more serious issues like herniated discs or spinal stenosis, which is when the space around the spinal cord narrows and puts pressure on the nerves. This can cause more severe pain and problems with movement or feeling in the legs and arms.

How does it affect the body?

DDD can affect the body by causing pain and stiffness in the back and neck, which can make it difficult to move freely. As the discs wear down, people may also experience nerve pain if the discs push on nearby nerves. This can lead to symptoms like tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arms and legs. DDD can impact daily life, making it harder to play sports, exercise, or even do chores around the house because of the discomfort and limited movement.

How do you help care for DDD in your practice?

In my practice, I help care for degenerative disc disease by using a combination of treatments. I first recommend chiropractic adjustments to help realign the spine and reduce pressure on the discs and nerves. As your body heals we add physical therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles around the spine, improve flexibility, and relieve pain. Often I suggest specific lifestyle changes, like staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and practicing good posture to help maintain optimal health.

Spinal Stenosis

What is spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spaces in your spine become narrow, which can put pressure on the nerves that run through your spinal column. The spinal column is made up of individual bones called vertebrae that stack on top of each other to protect your spinal cord. In between these vertebrae are discs that act like cushions, and there are also small joints called facet joints that help your spine move. When the spaces around these structures narrow due to aging, injury, or other factors, it can lead to spinal stenosis, causing pain and discomfort.

What are the symptoms of stenosis?

The symptoms of spinal stenosis can include pain in the back or neck, tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, and weakness in the muscles. Some people may also feel pain when walking or standing for long periods, which often gets better when they sit down or lean forward.

What makes it better and what makes it worse?

Activities that involve sitting down or leaning forward can help relieve the symptoms of spinal stenosis, as this position takes pressure off the nerves. On the other hand, standing for a long time, walking for extended periods, or lifting heavy objects can make the pain and discomfort worse because these activities put more stress on the narrow spaces in the spine.

What is the best treatment for stenosis?

The best treatment for spinal stenosis often starts with non-surgical options, like chiropractic and physical therapy, adjustments and exercises to strengthen the back, and medications to help manage pain and inflammation. If these treatments don’t work, a doctor may recommend injections or even surgery to widen the spaces in the spine and relieve pressure on the nerves

Muscle Strain

What is a muscle strain?

A muscle strain is an injury that happens when a muscle gets stretched too much or torn. It can happen during physical activities, like lifting something heavy or suddenly changing direction while running. When you strain a muscle, it can feel sore, tight, or even painful, making it hard to move that muscle properly.

What causes muscle strain?

Muscle strains are usually caused by overusing a muscle, lifting something that is too heavy, or not warming up properly before exercising. Sometimes, a sudden movement or awkward position can put too much stress on a muscle, causing it to stretch beyond its limit. This can happen in sports or even just doing everyday activities, like bending down to pick something up the wrong way.

How do muscle strains heal?

Muscle strains heal by allowing the body to rest and repair the injured muscle. When you strain a muscle, it’s important to give it time to recover. This usually involves resting the muscle, applying ice for the first 3 days to reduce swelling, and gently stretching it as it starts to feel better. The body sends special healing cells to the injured area, which helps the muscle repair itself over time. Most strains can improve in a few days to weeks, depending on how bad the injury is.

Could they be symptoms of something else?

Yes, muscle strains could be symptoms of something else, especially if the pain doesn’t go away or gets worse. Sometimes, pain that feels like a strain could be related to other issues, like tendon injuries, ligament damage, or problems with your spine. If someone has persistent pain, weakness, or difficulty moving, it’s important to see a doctor to find out the exact cause and get the right treatment.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)

What is the sacroiliac joint?

The sacroiliac joint is where your lower back meets your hips, on both sides of your body. When this joint gets stiff or out of alignment, it can cause pain in your lower back or hips.

What is it responsible for?

It helps connect your spine to your pelvis and allows for a little bit of movement which is important for activities like walking and bending.

How can it be the source of low back pain?

The SI joint can cause pain if it becomes stiff or if it moves too much or not enough. This can happen if the joint gets inflamed or if it’s not aligned properly, making it hurt when you move or even when you’re just sitting. The pain is usually felt in your lower back or hips and can even radiate down into the legs which can make it hard to do everyday activities.

What is the best treatment for SI joint pain?

The best treatment for SI pain often is a combined approach of chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, and home exercises. Chiropractic care helps align the joint, taking pressure off of the nerves and reducing tension in the spinal cord. Often there is inflammation or arthritis in the area of pain and Shockwave soft tissue regeneration helps heal and restore the muscles and ligaments in that area. Exercises are essential to keep strength and mobility and ensure the ongoing proper function of the SI joint.

Facet Joint Dysfunction

What are facet joints?

Facet joints are small joints located in the back of the spine that connect the bones of the vertebrae together. They help provide stability and allow the spine to bend and twist. Each vertebra has a pair of facet joints that work together, which is important for smooth movement and proper alignment of the spine.

How can they lead to low back pain?

Facet joints can lead to low back pain when they become irritated or inflamed, often due to injury, arthritis, or bad posture. If these joints aren’t working properly, they can create pain and stiffness in the lower back. This can make it uncomfortable to turn your head or look up and down. Over time, if the facet joints are worn down or damaged, it can cause chronic pain and limit movement in the neck.

How do you care for this cause of low back pain?

To care for low back pain caused by facet joints, it’s important to rest and avoid activities that make the pain worse. For the first 3 days after an injury, applying ice can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Gentle stretching and exercises to strengthen the neck muscles can also be helpful. Chiropractic adjustments are recommended to improve movement and relieve pain and correct the underlying problem.

Subluxation

What is a subluxation?

A subluxation is a problem with the communication between your brain and body. It is caused by physical, chemical and emotional stress build up that the body cannot adapt to.

What effect do they have on the body?

By changing how the brain and body communicate, subluxations can have insidious yet profound effects on the body by altering the overall health and function of the nerves that supply life to every organ and structure of the body.

How do you find and correct subluxations?

Through advanced technology and researched protocols we are able to see the signs of subluxation on your initial exam. Each visit we use 17 indicators and a specific reflex in your body to help us find where to adjust when you come in. The adjustments are ultra precise and very gentle.

What effect does a chiropractic adjustment have on the body?

A chiropractic adjustment restores communication in that area between the brain and body. This can result in decreased pain, improved movement, less tension, more energy, and better body functioning.

Why are chiropractors the best practitioner to correct a subluxation?

Only a chiropractor is trained in how to locate, analyze and correct subluxation. It’s our specialty!

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I be worried about lower back pain?

You should be worried about lower back pain if it lasts more than a few weeks, gets worse over time, or if it’s combined with other symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs. Also, if the pain started after a serious injury or accident, it’s a good idea to get it checked out by a chiropractor.

What can I do to relieve my lower back pain in Sandy, UT?

To relieve lower back pain in Sandy, UT, you can try gentle exercises like stretching, walking, or doing yoga to keep your back flexible. You can also apply ice or heat to the sore area, rest when needed, and make sure to maintain good posture when sitting or standing. If your lower back persists or comes back more than once then it is a good idea to have a doctor of chiropractic assess you to determine the cause.

How do I know if my back pain is serious?

You might know your back pain is serious if it lasts for a long time, gets worse instead of better, or if you also have symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs. If the pain is very intense or makes it hard to do everyday activities, it’s a good idea to see a doctor of chiropractic for advice.

What causes lower back pain?

Lower back pain can be caused by things like lifting something heavy the wrong way, sitting or standing for too long in a bad position, or getting a muscle strain from moving suddenly. It can also happen because of things like a slipped disc, where a part of your spine gets pushed out of place, or from poor posture and weak muscles.

How should I sleep with lower back pain?

When you have lower back pain, it’s often best to sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to keep your spine aligned. If you prefer sleeping on your back, try placing a pillow under your knees to help reduce the strain on your lower back. If those are still uncomfortable, try finding a position that works for you and make an appointment to get checked by our doctor.

How do I tell if lower back pain is muscle or disc-related?

You can tell if lower back pain is muscle-related if it feels sore and tight, especially after lifting something heavy or moving in a weird way, and it often gets better with rest or gentle stretching. If the pain feels sharp, travels down your leg, or comes with numbness or tingling, it might be due to a disc problem, like a slipped disc, and you should see a chiropractor for more help.

How does a slipped disc feel?

A slipped disc feels like a sharp, shooting pain in your back that can also spread down your legs, and it might feel like your muscles are super tight or weak. You might also feel tingling, numbness, or like pins and needles in your back, butt, or legs, especially when you move, cough, or sneeze.

Why won’t my lower back pain go away?

Your lower back pain might not be going away because there could be something wrong with your spine or muscles, like a slipped disc, muscle strain, or poor posture, that hasn’t been fixed yet. It can also stick around if you’re not moving enough, overdoing certain activities, or if there’s a lot of stress and tension in your life that’s making the pain worse.

Can a Chiropractor in Sandy, UT help with lower back pain?

Yes, a chiropractor in Sandy, UT, can help with lower back pain by using specific adjustments to realign your spine and improve how your body moves. They can also give you advice on exercises and stretches to help relieve pain and prevent it from coming back.

What is better for lower back pain: a chiropractor or a massage?

A chiropractor is often better for low back pain because they focus on aligning the spine and correcting joint issues, which can directly address the root cause of the pain. While massage can help relax muscles and relieve tension, it doesn’t usually fix the underlying structural problems that might be causing the pain.

When should I see a Chiropractor in Sandy, UT for lower back pain?

You should see a chiropractor for low back pain if you have pain that doesn’t go away after a few days, if it keeps coming back, or if it’s making it hard to do everyday activities like walking or sitting. Also, if you feel stiffness, numbness, or tingling in your back, legs, or hips, a chiropractor can help check if there’s a problem with your spine or joints that needs to be corrected.

How can you tell if your spine is out of alignment?

You might be able to tell if your spine is out of alignment if you have constant back pain, your posture feels off, like one shoulder is higher than the other, or if you feel stiff and can’t move as easily as usual. Other signs could include pain when standing or sitting for long periods, or if you feel unbalanced when walking.