Lower back pain and sciatica are common conditions that can severely impair your quality of life. Living with these injuries can make day-to-day activities—such as cleaning the house or playing with your children—feel impossible. At Back To Health Family Chiropractic, located in Fort Worth, TX, Board Certified Atlas Orthogonist, Dr. Chris Michlin, not only sympathizes with his patients’ discomfort, but also brings a unique sense of relief and hope—he’s experienced sciatica himself and deeply understands just how frustrating and debilitating this pain can be.
Causes of Sciatica and Lower Back Pain
Causes of this type of pain include, but are not limited to:
- Disc herniations – bulging discs can press on the nearby nerve root.
- Degenerative disc disease – worn-down spinal discs can narrow the space through which the nerve passes and pinch the nerve root.
- Degenerative Joint Disease – damaged or degenerated joints may lead to localized acute or chronic low back pain.
- Spinal stenosis – nerve roots are compressed as the spinal canal narrows, which often leads to numbness and tingling.
- Strains and sprains – injured muscles, ligaments, and tendons from sudden lifting, twisting, or overextension can lead to acute or chronic inflammation.
- Traumatic accident injuries – direct blows to the lower back from falls or auto accidents can damage the sciatic nerve.
- Lifestyle factors – poor posture, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle are among several factors that may lead to chronic stress on spinal structures.
How Atlas Orthogonal Works and Why It Matters
As the only Board Certified Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor in North Texas, Dr. Chris Michlin has guided hundreds of patients away from chronic lower back pain and sciatica toward lasting wellness. Our approach to treating sciatica differs from that of many other healthcare providers, including other chiropractors. We begin by restoring proper alignment to the Atlas (C1)—the top vertebra in the spine—and then move on to full-spine care once the Atlas remains correctly positioned. Many patients are surprised to learn that a misalignment of this top vertebra may actually be the root cause of their lower back pain. To help visualize why this matters, think of the spine as a chain. When the top link is out of alignment, the entire chain follows behind and falls into misalignment as well.
Restoring the Atlas to its neutral (orthogonal) position is essential for optimal spinal alignment. When it shifts out of place, the body compensates by misaligning other structures—tilting the head, raising one shoulder or hip, or even shortening a leg. This cascade of imbalance can trigger a wide range of symptoms, including lower back and sciatic pain.
Dr. Michlin provides gentle and specific Atlas Orthogonal adjustments by utilizing the Atlas Orthogonal Precision Adjusting Instrument to restore proper alignment to the top vertebra. Maintaining the Atlas in its neutral position then allows the rest of the spine to realign correctly.
By addressing the root cause of your pain, Dr. Michlin’s Atlas Orthogonal care not only relieves your symptoms but also promotes optimal health.
After aligning the Atlas, Dr. Michlin provides comprehensive full-spine adjustments to enhance and accelerate healing of the lower back. Dr. Michlin’s approach is not just about addressing the immediate pain, but also about optimizing overall health. He utilizes a combination of tools and techniques to optimize lower back healing, including, cox flexion distraction (decompression), Palmer package, Thompson drop table, activator methods, Sacral Occipital Technique (SOT), soft tissue mobilization, red light and near-infrared therapy. Many patients with lower back pain experience dramatic improvement within just a few visits, giving them confidence in the thoroughness of our treatments.
Sciatic and lower back pain won’t simply improve or disappear without proper care. We encourage you to be proactive in your health—Don’t wait for a flare-up to seek treatment. Early treatment and regular spinal maintenance are key to paving the way to better health. Take the first step toward a pain-free life guided by a chiropractor near you. Call our specialized team today at (817) 810-9111 to schedule your appointment with Texas’ only Board Certified Atlas Orthogonist, Dr. Chris Michlin.
Read more about our Chiropractic Success Stories on lower back pain and sciatica pain HERE