Back Pain Treatment in Louisville, KY

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Not Every Back Pain Needs Surgery

One of the biggest fears people carry into our office is the fear of hearing they need surgery.

Here is the good news: most people with back pain never need it.

The American College of Physicians recommends non-drug care — including spinal manipulation — as a first step for most low back pain [1]. Large research reviews in JAMA and the BMJ found that spinal manipulation improves pain and function for both new and long-standing low back pain [2][3]. Research also shows that many herniated discs shrink on their own over time as the body reabsorbs the disc material [4].

Many back problems respond well to conservative care when the correct diagnosis comes first. That care may include chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, corrective exercise, or a combination.

The key is matching the treatment to the problem.

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What Happens During Your Evaluation?

We Don’t Guess. We Measure.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming all back pain is the same. It isn't.

We don't walk into the room, crack your back, and hope for the best. We start by listening to your story.

We'll ask questions like:

• Where does it hurt?
• When did it begin?
• What makes it worse? What makes it feel better?
• Does the pain travel into your leg?
• Have you had previous injuries?
• What have you already tried?

Then we perform a thorough examination. Depending on your condition, this may include:

• Orthopedic and neurological testing
• Reflex and muscle strength testing
• Range of motion and digital posture analysis
• MyoVision muscle and nerve scans when indicated
• High-speed digital X-rays when appropriate

By the end of the examination, we can usually explain what's causing your pain, show you what we found, and walk you through your options. And if we find something outside our scope, we'll tell you plainly and point you to the right provider.

Tired of Guessing Why Your Back Hurts?

Your first visit is $67 — consultation, MyoVision scan, digital posture scan, X-rays if needed, and a personalized review of findings. Normally $492.

Call (502) 245-7334 or schedule online today.

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Back Pain Conditions We Treat

Every section below starts with a quick answer, because when your back hurts, you want answers first and details second.

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Lower Back Pain

Quick answer: Lower back pain usually starts in the joints, discs, or muscles of the lumbar spine. Our examination pinpoints which one — and your treatment targets that source.

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work and visit a doctor. It shows up as a dull ache, sharp pain, muscle spasms, or stiffness. It flares when you stand, sit, lift, or get out of bed.

Sometimes the problem is muscular. Sometimes it's a disc. Sometimes it's an irritated joint. Finding the difference matters, because each one calls for a different plan.

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Herniated & Bulging Discs

Quick answer: A herniated disc presses on nearby nerves and causes back pain, leg pain, or both. Spinal decompression takes pressure off the injured disc so it can heal.

Your discs are the cushions between the bones of your spine — a firm outer ring around a gel-like center. A bulging disc pushes outward against that ring. A herniated disc pushes material through it. Either one can press on a nerve and send pain into your back, buttock, or leg.

Here is what most people never hear: research shows many herniated discs shrink over time as the body reabsorbs the material [4]. Our job is to reduce the pressure, calm the nerve, and restore motion while that healing happens. Non-surgical spinal decompression was built for exactly this problem, and a randomized trial found that adding decompression to standard care improved pain, function, and range of motion [5].

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Degenerative Disc Disease

Quick answer: Degenerative disc disease means your discs have thinned and dried out over time. We can't make discs young again — we restore motion, reduce irritation, and strengthen the muscles that support them.

Despite the name, this is not really a "disease." It is a wear process, the same way gray hair is. Discs lose water content with age, sit lower, and share load differently.

Here is the important part: plenty of people have disc degeneration on X-ray and feel fine. Degeneration alone doesn't explain pain. Our exam looks for the joints and tissues that are actually irritated — and treats those — instead of blaming your age and sending you home.

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Arthritis & Facet Joint Pain

Quick answer: The small facet joints along the back of your spine can wear, swell, and lock up. Restoring motion in those joints reduces the pain they create.

Facet joints guide how your spine bends and twists. When they become arthritic or irritated, your back feels stiff in the morning, aches when you stand too long, and complains when you lean backward.

We'll be straight with you: no treatment reverses arthritis. But stiff, arthritic joints move better when they're mobilized regularly, and stronger supporting muscles take load off them. Most of our arthritis patients are surprised by how much better a "worn" spine can feel when it moves well.

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Spinal Stenosis

Quick answer: Stenosis is a narrowing of the canal your spinal nerves travel through. Leg pain or heaviness when walking is the classic sign — and care focused on motion, posture, and decompression helps many people walk farther with less pain.

Stenosis usually shows up after 60. The telltale pattern: your legs ache or feel heavy when you walk, and leaning forward — on a shopping cart, for example — brings relief. Leaning forward opens the narrowed canal.

We use that same principle in care: flexion-based exercise, gentle adjustments, and spinal decompression to reduce pressure on the nerves. The goal is simple and practical — more distance, less pain, and independence you keep.

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SI Joint Dysfunction

Quick answer: The sacroiliac joints connect your spine to your pelvis. When one stops moving properly, it causes low back and buttock pain that mimics other problems.

SI joint pain sits low — usually on one side, right around the beltline or the dimple of the buttock. It flares when you stand up from sitting, climb stairs, or roll over in bed. It is common after falls, in pregnancy, and in people whose legs carry load unevenly.

SI problems get misdiagnosed constantly because they imitate disc and hip pain. Specific orthopedic tests separate them — and specific adjustments restore the joint's motion.

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Muscle Strains & Ligament Sprains

Quick answer: Strains and sprains are the most common cause of sudden back pain — and the most likely to return when the reason you strained it goes unaddressed.

You lifted, twisted, or reached — and something grabbed. Most strains heal within a few weeks. The real question is the one almost nobody asks: why did a normal movement injure you?

Usually the answer is a spine that wasn't moving well or muscles that weren't strong enough for the job. Treat the strain alone and it comes back. Fix the movement problem behind it and it doesn't have to.

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Sciatica

Quick answer: Sciatica is nerve pain that travels from your back into your buttock, leg, or foot. Treating the leg misses the point — the problem starts at the spine.

People describe sciatica as burning, tingling, numbness, electric shocks, or pins and needles down the leg. It comes from pressure on the sciatic nerve, most often from a disc or a narrowed canal in the lower back.

Spinal decompression combined with chiropractic care and laser therapy reduces that pressure without surgery. We cover causes, relief positions, and treatment in depth on our dedicated sciatica page.

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Upper Back Pain (Between the Shoulder Blades)

Quick answer: Hours of screens and desks stiffen the joints of the upper back and overwork the muscles between your shoulder blades. Restoring motion there takes the burden off those muscles.

Many people spend most of the day looking down at a phone or leaning toward a screen. Over time the upper-back joints stiffen, the muscles stay tight, and the whole region works harder than it should.

The result: burning between the shoulder blades, tight muscles, trouble taking a deep breath, neck pain, and headaches. Improving movement in the upper spine reduces the stress on the muscles supporting your neck and shoulders.

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Back Pain After a Car Accident

Even low-speed accidents can injure the muscles, ligaments, discs, and joints of the spine. Sometimes pain shows up immediately. Sometimes it takes days.

If you've recently been in a crash, getting evaluated early lets us document your injuries, find hidden problems, and begin treatment before the condition becomes chronic. In most Kentucky cases, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays for your care — with no out-of-pocket cost to you.

We walk accident patients through the whole process on our personal injury care page.

Been in an accident? We offer a complimentary Accident Injury Consultation.

Call (502) 245-7334 and tell us you were in a crash — we'll get you in quickly.

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Back Pain by Age & Activity

Back pain looks different at 25 than it does at 65 — and different for a golfer than for a nurse on her feet all day. Here is what we see most.

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In Your 20s and 30s

Young backs usually hurt from strains, sports injuries, and disc problems. Discs are at their fullest and most pressurized in these decades, which makes them vulnerable to heavy or awkward lifting. Add long hours of sitting for work or school, and the supporting muscles weaken while the discs take more load.

The good news: young spines respond fast. This is also the cheapest possible time to fix a movement problem — before it spends twenty years compounding.

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In Your 40s and 50s

This is the decade of "my back went out." Disc degeneration begins, facet joints start to complain, and the recovery that used to take two days takes two weeks. Careers spent sitting — or lifting — start collecting their bill.

This is the decade to correct how you move, not manage around it. Patients who rebuild strength and joint motion in their 40s and 50s walk into their 60s with a very different back than the ones who reach for the pill bottle each flare-up.

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60s and Beyond

Arthritis and stenosis become the common culprits, and stiffness becomes the daily tax. Balance and leg strength start to matter as much as pain relief, because they keep you independent.

We adapt care to the spine in front of us — gentler techniques, more attention to mobility and strength, and a simple standard: staying active is the treatment, not the risk.

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Back Pain and the Way You Live

Sitting all day. Sitting loads your discs more than standing does, and it does it for eight hours straight. Micro-breaks, a raised screen, and hip and core strength matter more than any expensive chair.

Standing work. Nurses, warehouse workers, hairdressers, and factory workers wear down facet joints and fatigue the postural muscles. Footwear, weight shifts, and targeted strength keep a standing career sustainable.

Lifting. Most lifting injuries happen on light objects lifted badly, not heavy objects lifted well. The spine tolerates load; it dislikes load combined with bending and twisting. We teach patients to hinge from the hips and keep the object close.

Sleeping. If your back hurts most in the morning, your mattress or sleep position may be aggravating a problem that's already there — but it rarely created the problem. Side sleepers do well with a pillow between the knees; back sleepers, under them.

Golf. The golf swing rotates the lower back at high speed, over and over. Most golf-related back pain traces to stiff hips and a stiff mid-back forcing the lower back to rotate more than it is built to. Restore motion above and below, and the lower back stops paying the price.

Gardening. Hours of bending, kneeling, and pulling — usually after a winter off. Warm up first, change positions often, and treat it like the workout it is.

Pregnancy. A growing belly shifts your center of gravity forward and loosens the ligaments around the pelvis. Low back and SI joint pain are common and treatable. All three of our doctors are Webster Technique certified for safe, comfortable chiropractic care during pregnancy.

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Back Pain Myths vs. Facts

Myth: "If it hurts this much, something must be seriously damaged."

Fact: Pain level does not equal damage level. A muscle spasm can hurt worse than a herniated disc. Severe pain deserves an examination — not panic.

Myth: "Bed rest is the best thing for a bad back."

Fact: Movement within your tolerance speeds recovery. Extended bed rest stiffens joints, weakens muscles, and slows healing for most back pain.

Myth: "An MRI will show exactly what's wrong."

Fact: Many people with zero pain have disc bulges and degeneration on MRI. Imaging findings only matter when they match your history and examination [6][7]. The exam tells us whether the picture matters.

Myth: "Once a bad back, always a bad back."

Fact: Most back pain episodes resolve. What keeps them repeating is an uncorrected cause — and correcting it lowers the odds of the next one.

Myth: "Cracking my own back is the same as an adjustment."

Fact: Self-cracking moves the joints that already move too much — that's what makes the noise easy. An adjustment targets the specific joint that's stuck, in a specific direction, after an examination identifies it.

Myth: "A disc problem means surgery eventually."

Fact: Most herniated discs improve without surgery, and research shows many shrink on their own over time [4]. Surgery is the exception, reserved for red flags and cases that fail conservative care.

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Do I Need an MRI?

Usually not right away. National guidelines recommend imaging for back pain only when red-flag signs exist or when pain fails to improve with a course of conservative care [6][7]. Ordering an MRI on day one usually adds cost, wait, and worry — without changing the treatment.

Here is how we handle it: we take high-speed digital X-rays in our office when your examination calls for them. We refer for MRI when nerve symptoms are severe or progressive, when red flags appear, or when your progress stalls and we need a deeper look. If you need advanced imaging, we order it and explain why. If you don't, we save you the cost and the wait.

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Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, or Orthopedic Surgeon?

Honest answer: for most back pain, the right starting point is conservative care — and national guidelines agree [1].

Chiropractors and physical therapists overlap more than people think. The classic split is that chiropractors restore joint motion and PTs build strength. At Lowe Chiropractic & Wellness we do both: adjustments and decompression to restore motion, plus corrective exercise from our exercise library to build the strength that keeps it. Laser and shockwave therapy round out the toolbox for stubborn tissue.

Orthopedic surgeons are the right call for the small group with emergency red flags, progressive weakness, or pain that fails months of well-run conservative care. If your case belongs there, we'll tell you directly and help you get there. Starting with the least invasive option that fits your condition costs you nothing — skipping straight to the most invasive one can.

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How We Treat Back Pain

No two patients receive the same treatment, because no two backs are alike. Depending on your diagnosis, your plan may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Adjustments restore movement to joints that have become restricted, which reduces stress on the surrounding muscles and nerves. Research reviews in JAMA and the BMJ found spinal manipulation improves pain and function in low back pain [2][3]. Learn more on our chiropractic care page.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression

For disc injuries, spinal decompression gently stretches the spine in slow, computer-controlled cycles. The negative pressure created inside the disc draws bulging material back and pulls in the fluid and nutrients the disc needs to heal [5].

Laser Therapy

Healing requires energy. Our low-level (cold) laser and Class 4 laser therapy systems deliver light energy to injured tissue, adding energy to the cells and supporting faster repair. Laser is also a core part of our neuropathy care for nerve-related symptoms.

Shockwave Therapy

Stubborn tissue needs a restart. Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in chronic muscle, tendon, and ligament problems that have stopped responding on their own.

Corrective Exercise

Pain improves before strength and stability return — and stopping care at "feels better" is how back pain becomes a repeat visitor. We prescribe specific exercises to improve posture, strengthen the muscles that support your spine, and keep your progress.

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We Measure Progress

We don't simply treat you until the calendar says you're finished. We check your progress every visit, and about every 30 days we perform a re-examination that compares where you started with where you are now — including repeat functional testing and MyoVision scans that measure changes in muscle activity.

If you're improving, we celebrate it and keep moving toward your goals. If you're not improving the way we expect, we change the plan instead of doing more of the same.

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When Should You Get Your Back Checked?

Don't wait until you can barely stand up. Schedule an evaluation if:

• Your pain has lasted more than a week or two
• Your pain keeps coming back
• Pain travels into your leg, or you feel numbness or tingling
• You avoid activities because of your back
• You rely on pain medication to get through the day
• Back pain is affecting your work, sleep, or family life

The earlier we identify the cause, the easier most conditions are to treat.

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When Back Pain Is an Emergency

Most back pain isn't dangerous. Seek immediate medical attention if your back pain comes with:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness in the groin or inner thighs (saddle numbness)
• Progressive leg weakness
• High fever
• Significant unexplained weight loss
• Major trauma, such as a fall from height or a serious crash

Those signs need an emergency room, not an adjustment. For everything else, we're here.

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Why So Many People Choose Lowe Chiropractic

• Three doctors on one team — Drs. Lowe, Bentley, and Tarullo — so you get more experience and easier scheduling
• Detailed examinations with orthopedic and neurological testing, not a quick look and a quick crack
• MyoVision muscle and nerve scans plus digital posture and range-of-motion analysis to measure, not guess
• High-speed digital X-rays on site when your condition calls for them
• A complete back pain toolbox under one roof: adjustments, spinal decompression, two clinically distinct laser systems, shockwave therapy, and corrective exercise
• 661 five-star Google reviews from your Louisville neighbors
• Featured on WDRB, Wave 3, and WLKY
• Serving Louisville since 1998

Our goal isn't simply helping you feel better today. It's helping you work better, play better, and age better for years to come.

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Getting Started Is Simple

Step 1 — Call or schedule online. Call (502) 245-7334 or request an appointment through our website. Most new patients are seen within a day or two.

Step 2 — Come in for your $67 new patient evaluation. Consultation, MyoVision scan, digital posture scan, X-rays if needed, and a personalized review of findings — normally $492.

Step 3 — Get your plan. We explain what we found in plain language, show you the findings, and map out a treatment plan built for your condition and your goals.

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Stop Planning Your Life Around Your Back

You've modified how you lift, how you sit, how you sleep, and what you say yes to. That's not living with back pain — that's living around it.

Back pain is a symptom. Symptoms have causes. And causes can be found, treated, and corrected. Since 1998, that's exactly what we've done for thousands of your Louisville neighbors — so they can work better, play better, and age better.

Feel Better. Get Better. Stay Better.

Schedule Your Back Pain Evaluation Today

Your first visit is $67 — consultation, MyoVision scan, digital posture scan, X-rays if needed, and a personalized review of findings. Normally $492.

Lowe Chiropractic & Wellness — 10306 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40223

Call (502) 245-7334 or schedule online.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chiropractor help with back pain?

Yes. Major medical guidelines list spinal manipulation among the recommended first-line treatments for low back pain. Chiropractic care works especially well when joints aren't moving properly or muscles are compensating for restricted movement. Your examination at Lowe Chiropractic & Wellness determines whether it's the right fit for your condition.

Will I need X-rays?

Not always. If your history and examination show that X-rays would help us diagnose your condition or guide safe treatment, we'll take them in our office with our high-speed digital X-ray system. If they aren't necessary, we won't take them.

Can a herniated disc heal without surgery?

Most herniated discs improve without surgery. Research shows many herniated discs shrink over time as the body reabsorbs the disc material. Chiropractic care, spinal decompression, laser therapy, and corrective exercise reduce pain and restore function while that healing happens.

How many visits will I need?

It depends on the cause of your pain, how long you've had it, your overall health, and how your body responds to care. After your evaluation, we'll explain our findings and recommend a plan built for your condition. We re-examine you about every 30 days and adjust the plan based on your progress.

How much does the first visit cost?

Your first visit is $67. It includes a consultation, a MyoVision scan, a digital posture scan, X-rays if needed, and a personalized review of your findings — normally $492.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. We accept many insurance plans, and we'll review your benefits before beginning care whenever possible. If you were hurt in a car accident, Kentucky PIP coverage pays for treatment in most cases.

Is it better to rest or stay active when my back hurts?

Stay as active as your pain allows. Long bed rest slows recovery for most back pain. Gentle movement keeps joints mobile and muscles working. If certain movements sharply increase your pain, that's useful information — bring it to your evaluation.

Should I use ice or heat for back pain?

Use ice for a new injury with sharp pain, usually in the first day or two. Use heat for stiffness and tight muscles. If you're unsure, ice is the safer starting point. Neither one fixes the cause — they manage symptoms while the real problem gets addressed.

When is back pain serious?

Seek immediate medical care if back pain comes with loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, progressive leg weakness, high fever, unexplained weight loss, or follows major trauma. Those signs need emergency evaluation, not an adjustment.

Can back pain cause pain in my leg?

Yes. When a disc or a narrowed joint puts pressure on a nerve in your lower back, pain travels along that nerve into the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot. Sciatica is the most common example. The leg hurts, but the problem starts at the spine.

Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor in Kentucky?

No. Kentucky allows you to see a chiropractor directly, without a referral from another doctor. Call (502) 245-7334 and we'll get you scheduled.

Does spinal decompression hurt?

No. Most patients find it comfortable, and some fall asleep during treatment. You lie on a computer-controlled table that gently stretches the spine in slow cycles. Sessions typically last 15 to 20 minutes.

What if my back pain keeps coming back?

Recurring back pain usually means the original cause was never corrected. The pain faded, but the restricted joint, weak supporting muscles, or poor movement pattern stayed. Our plans pair pain relief with corrective exercise so the problem stops repeating.

Where can I find back pain treatment near me in Louisville?

Lowe Chiropractic & Wellness is located at 10306 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40223, in Louisville's East End near Middletown. We've served Louisville since 1998 and treat back pain with chiropractic care, spinal decompression, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, and corrective exercise.

Do you see back pain patients from St. Matthews, Middletown, and Jeffersontown?

Yes. Patients visit us from across the Louisville area, including Middletown, St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Anchorage, and Prospect. Our Shelbyville Road location is a short drive from each.

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References

[1] 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. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530. PMID: 28192789.

[2] Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Booth MS, et al. Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1451-1460. PMID: 28399251.

[3] Rubinstein SM, de Zoete A, van Middelkoop M, et al. Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2019;364:l689. PMID: 30867144.

[4] Chiu CC, Chuang TY, Chang KH, et al. The probability of spontaneous regression of lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2015;29(2):184-195. PMID: 25009200.

[5] Amjad F, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Gilani SA, et al. Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):255. PMID: 35296293.

[6] Chou R, Qaseem A, Snow V, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147(7):478-491. PMID: 17909209.

[7] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Low Back Pain Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health.