Understand What May Be Contributing to Your Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain can make it difficult to work, exercise, sleep, sit comfortably, or keep up with everyday activities. At Godo Chiropractic, your evaluation is designed to identify the mechanical, postural, and movement-related factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Dr. Jason Godo is a chiropractic physician and registered nurse with more than 23 years of clinical experience. He evaluates your health history, symptoms, posture, movement, joint function, muscle function, and neurological findings when clinically appropriate.
The goal is not to assume that every patient has the same problem. It is to determine what may be affecting you, whether chiropractic care is appropriate, and what the safest next step should be.
Godo Chiropractic is located in Lakeview and serves patients from Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, Northalsted, Roscoe Village, Uptown, River North, and surrounding Chicago neighborhoods.
Call (773) 525-0007 to ask questions or schedule your $29 AI-Assisted Posture & Pain Assessment.
Do These Lower Back Pain Symptoms Sound Familiar?
Patients commonly seek an evaluation for symptoms such as:
- Pain or stiffness after sitting for long periods
- Lower back pain when standing up from a chair
- Morning stiffness or discomfort getting out of bed
- Pain when bending, lifting, twisting, or reaching
- Muscle tightness or spasms in the lower back
- Difficulty exercising or completing household tasks
- Pain after prolonged standing, driving, or computer work
- Recurring episodes that improve temporarily but keep returning
- Discomfort affecting sleep, work, or normal movement
Lower back pain is a symptom rather than a single diagnosis. Two people can experience pain in the same area for different reasons, which is why an individualized examination matters.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Lower Back Pain?
Chiropractic care may be appropriate when lower back pain is influenced by joint restriction, mechanical irritation, muscle tension, reduced mobility, postural stress, or movement dysfunction.
Your evaluation helps determine whether these factors appear to be involved and whether chiropractic treatment is a reasonable option. Care is not recommended automatically. If your examination suggests that imaging, medical evaluation, or referral is more appropriate, Dr. Godo will explain that recommendation.
Depending on your findings, care may include:
- Chiropractic treatment adapted to your condition and comfort
- Joint mobility and soft-tissue techniques
- Posture and movement recommendations
- Stretching, mobility, or strengthening guidance
- Advice about sitting, sleeping, lifting, and daily activities
- Coordination with another healthcare provider when appropriate
No treatment works the same way for every patient. Recommendations depend on the suspected source of your pain, your examination findings, symptom severity, overall health, and response to care.
$29 AI-Assisted Posture & Pain Assessment
The first step is understanding what may be contributing to your symptoms. Your $29 assessment combines a clinical evaluation by Dr. Godo with technology that helps illustrate posture and movement patterns.
The AI-assisted component supports the examination. It does not independently diagnose a medical condition or replace Dr. Godo’s clinical judgment.
Your assessment includes:
- Consultation with Dr. Godo
- Review of your symptoms and health history
- Movement and functional evaluation
- AI-assisted posture and pain assessment
- Evaluation of relevant joint, muscle, and movement patterns
- Discussion of findings
- Personalized recommendations and next steps
Treatment may begin during the same visit when the examination indicates that chiropractic care is appropriate. Treatment is separate from the $29 assessment unless specifically stated.
Contact the office or call (773) 525-0007 to schedule.
Why Patients Choose This Assessment
Many patients have already tried rest, stretching, massage, medications, exercise programs, or temporary activity changes. These approaches may provide relief, but symptoms can return when the contributing factors have not been clearly identified.
This assessment is intended to help you:
- Better understand what may be contributing to your pain
- Identify positions or movements that reproduce your symptoms
- Evaluate whether posture or movement patterns may be increasing stress
- Distinguish lower back pain from symptoms that may involve the sciatic nerve
- Determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate
- Receive practical recommendations based on your individual findings
- Understand when additional testing or referral may be necessary
Three Common Patterns Associated With Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain can involve several structures and contributing factors at the same time. The following are three common mechanical patterns Dr. Godo evaluates.
1. Joint Restriction and Reduced Mobility
Restricted movement in the joints of the lower back, pelvis, or hips can change how forces are distributed during sitting, standing, bending, walking, and lifting. This may contribute to stiffness, soreness, or recurring pain.
2. Disc or Surrounding Tissue Irritation
Spinal discs and surrounding tissues can become sensitive after repetitive strain, prolonged sitting, lifting, bending, or injury. Certain positions may increase discomfort, while others may temporarily reduce it.
Disc-related pain does not automatically mean surgery is required. The appropriate next step depends on your symptoms, examination findings, neurological status, and overall clinical presentation.
3. Movement and Compensation Patterns
Your body adapts to previous injuries, limited mobility, muscle imbalance, work demands, exercise habits, and repetitive daily movements. Compensation in the hips, pelvis, upper back, or lower extremities may increase mechanical stress on the lower back.
The evaluation looks beyond the location of the pain to understand how your body is moving as a whole.
Lower Back Pain or Sciatica?
Lower back pain and sciatica can occur together, but they are not the same condition.
Lower back pain may remain primarily in the lumbar region. Sciatica more commonly involves pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels from the lower back or buttock into the leg.
Not every case of leg pain is sciatica, and not every patient with lower back pain has nerve involvement. Your examination helps determine which tissues or structures may be contributing.
Experiencing symptoms that travel into your hip, buttock, leg, or foot? Visit our sciatica chiropractor in Chicago page for more information.
How Dr. Godo Evaluates Lower Back Pain
Your evaluation begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms and how they affect your work, exercise, sleep, and daily activities.
Dr. Godo may evaluate:
- When and how your symptoms began
- Where the pain is located and whether it travels
- Positions or activities that improve or aggravate the pain
- Previous injuries, treatment, or diagnostic imaging
- Posture and movement patterns
- Lower-back, pelvic, and hip mobility
- Muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination
- Joint and soft-tissue findings
- Reflexes, sensation, or neurological function when indicated
- Movements that reproduce or reduce your symptoms
These findings are used to determine whether chiropractic care appears appropriate and to develop recommendations specific to your condition.
Do You Need an X-Ray or MRI?
Not every patient with lower back pain needs imaging before beginning conservative care. Imaging decisions should be based on your history, symptoms, examination findings, trauma, neurological changes, and other clinical concerns.
Dr. Godo may recommend imaging or referral when it is necessary to clarify the diagnosis, investigate a possible underlying condition, or ensure that treatment can be provided safely.
For general information about back-pain evaluation and treatment, visit the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases .
What to Expect During Your First Visit
Your first visit may include:
- A review of your health history and current symptoms
- A discussion of how the pain affects your daily life
- Posture, movement, orthopedic, and neurological evaluation as indicated
- An explanation of the examination findings
- A discussion of treatment options and alternatives
- Recommendations for imaging or referral when necessary
Treatment may begin during the first visit when clinically appropriate. You will have an opportunity to ask questions before beginning care.
Read more about what to expect at your first chiropractic visit .
Why Patients Choose Godo Chiropractic
- Direct care from Dr. Jason Godo
- Chiropractic physician and registered nurse
- More than 23 years of clinical experience
- Individualized examination and treatment recommendations
- AI-assisted posture and movement assessment
- Evaluation of musculoskeletal and neurological symptoms
- Convenient Lakeview Chicago location
- Same-day appointments may be available
- Same-day treatment when clinically appropriate
- Insurance and payment options reviewed before your visit
Review our insurance and payment options , or call the office before your visit with questions about coverage.
When Lower Back Pain Requires Urgent Medical Care
Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every presentation of lower back pain. Seek prompt or emergency medical evaluation for symptoms such as:
- New loss of bladder or bowel control
- New urinary retention or difficulty urinating
- Numbness in the groin, genital, or saddle area
- Rapidly worsening leg weakness
- Severe symptoms affecting both legs
- Back pain following major trauma
- Back pain accompanied by fever or significant illness
- Unexplained weight loss with persistent pain
- Sudden inability to stand or walk normally
Call 911 or seek emergency care when symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or accompanied by new bowel, bladder, or major neurological changes.
Additional general information is available from Mayo Clinic’s guidance on when to seek medical care for back pain .
Frequently Asked Questions About Lower Back Pain
Can a chiropractor help with lower back pain?
Chiropractic care may help when lower back pain is associated with joint restriction, reduced mobility, mechanical irritation, muscle tension, posture, or movement dysfunction. An examination is necessary to determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your specific condition.
What commonly causes lower back pain?
Lower back pain may involve muscle or ligament strain, joint irritation, disc-related sensitivity, reduced mobility, repetitive stress, posture, deconditioning, or movement compensation. Several factors may be present at the same time.
Can sitting too long contribute to lower back pain?
Prolonged sitting can increase mechanical stress and reduce movement through the lower back and hips. Regular position changes, movement breaks, and workstation adjustments may help, although recommendations should be individualized.
Should I rest when my lower back hurts?
Briefly modifying painful activities may be reasonable, but prolonged bed rest is generally not recommended for uncomplicated lower back pain. The appropriate level of activity depends on your symptoms, examination findings, and overall health.
Do I need an MRI before seeing a chiropractor?
Most patients do not automatically need an MRI before an initial examination. Imaging may be recommended when there has been significant trauma, progressive neurological change, suspected underlying disease, or examination findings that require further investigation.
Will treatment begin during my first appointment?
Treatment may begin during the first visit when the examination indicates that chiropractic care is safe and appropriate. If additional testing or referral is needed, Dr. Godo will explain the recommended next step.
How long will it take for my lower back pain to improve?
Recovery time varies according to the cause, severity, duration, activity level, health history, and response to treatment. Dr. Godo can discuss expected progress after completing your evaluation.
What is included in the $29 assessment?
The assessment includes a consultation, review of your symptoms and health history, movement evaluation, AI-assisted posture and pain assessment, and a discussion of findings and recommended next steps. Treatment is separate unless specifically stated.
Do you accept insurance?
Coverage depends on your insurance carrier, network, plan, deductible, and chiropractic benefits. Contact the office before your appointment so your insurance and payment options can be reviewed.
Are same-day appointments available?
Same-day appointments may be available depending on the office schedule. Call (773) 525-0007 for current availability.
Lower Back Pain Chiropractor Near You in Chicago
Godo Chiropractic is located at 3118 N. Sheffield Avenue, Unit 1S, Chicago, Illinois 60657.
Our office serves patients from:
- Lakeview
- Lincoln Park
- Wrigleyville
- Northalsted
- Roscoe Village
- Uptown
- River North
- Other Chicago neighborhoods
Schedule Your $29 AI-Assisted Posture & Pain Assessment
You should not receive the same treatment as every other patient. Your evaluation should begin with understanding your symptoms, examination findings, health history, and individual goals.
Call our office today to ask questions or schedule your lower back pain assessment.
Phone: (773) 525-0007
Location: 3118 N. Sheffield Avenue, Unit 1S, Chicago, IL 60657
Contact Godo Chiropractic
Individual results vary. The information on this page is educational and is not a substitute for an individualized medical examination, diagnosis, or emergency care.