Back Pain & Sciatica Treatment in Lakewood.

Neither is the usual first step. Scans of people with no pain at all routinely show disc bulges and wear and tear, so an image on its own doesn’t tell you what hurts. We start with a hands-on evaluation, including nerve tension tests like the straight leg raise, to find what’s actually driving your symptoms. You also don’t need a referral: California’s Direct Access law lets you start with a licensed physical therapist for up to 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first. If imaging or a physician turns out to be necessary, we’ll say so and help you get there.

In most cases movement helps more than rest does. Hurt doesn’t always mean harm, and total rest tends to leave a back stiffer and weaker, which sets up the next flare-up. The job is dosing the right movement for your back, which is exactly what a licensed physical therapist sorts out at your evaluation, then progresses as you improve. Anything that feeds the leg pain gets pulled and replaced.

Your plan runs through all four phases, Pain, Prime, Perform and Prevent, and it has an endpoint. You’ll always know which phase you’re in and what’s left, not an open-ended string of appointments. As a general guideline, not a guarantee, 2–3 visits a week for 4–6 weeks is what gets the most out of a plan. On cost: we accept 14 insurance plans, Medicare included, and we check your benefits before you start so nothing lands as a surprise.