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Back, Neck and Spine Pain

Empathy Physical Therapy treats back pain, neck pain, sciatica, disc problems and spinal stenosis with one-on-one physical therapy in your home. Whether your pain started last week or has been with you for years, we’ll take the time to understand what’s driving it and build a plan to help you move with less pain.

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What we treat

Click any condition below to read more about it and how we approach treatment.

Back pain

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a physical therapist. It can come from a strain, stiffness, long hours of sitting, arthritis, a disc problem or no clear cause at all. It might be a dull ache, a sharp catch when you bend or stiffness that’s worst in the morning.

Most back pain improves, and the right movement usually helps more than rest. Treatment focuses on calming pain, restoring how your spine and hips move, and building the strength and confidence to get back to normal activity. Mid-back pain is treated the same way, with extra attention to posture and breathing.

Neck pain often shows up as stiffness, tightness across the shoulders, trouble turning your head or headaches that start at the base of the skull. Common causes include desk work, sleeping position, arthritis, whiplash and stress.

Treatment usually combines hands-on work to ease stiffness, exercises for the deep neck and upper back muscles, and practical changes to how you sit, work and sleep. Headaches that come from the neck are covered here too; for headaches after a concussion, see dizziness and concussion.

Sciatica is pain that travels from the low back or buttock down the leg, sometimes with tingling, numbness or weakness. It happens when a nerve root in the spine is irritated, often by a disc or narrowing around the nerve. The same thing can happen in the neck, causing pain down the arm. You may hear it called radiculitis or radiculopathy.

Physical therapy aims to calm the irritated nerve, find positions and movements that ease symptoms, and gradually restore strength and normal movement. Nerve gliding exercises are often part of the plan.

Discs are the cushions between the bones of the spine. When the inner material bulges or pushes out, it can cause back or neck pain, or press on a nerve and cause sciatica or arm pain. Disc findings on an MRI are also very common in people with no pain at all, so the scan is only part of the story.

Many disc problems improve without surgery. Treatment focuses on movements that reduce symptoms, protecting the spine during daily tasks, and rebuilding strength so you can return to normal activity with confidence.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces around the spinal cord or nerves, usually from age-related changes. In the low back, it often causes heaviness, aching or tingling in the legs when standing or walking, which eases when you sit or lean forward, like over a shopping cart.

Physical therapy works on flexibility, strength, positions that give the nerves more room, and gradually building walking tolerance. Because stenosis often affects older adults, we also pay close attention to balance and fall risk.

Thoracic outlet syndrome happens when nerves or blood vessels are compressed in the space between the neck, collarbone and first rib. It can cause arm pain, numbness, tingling or weakness, often worse with overhead activity or carrying.

Treatment focuses on posture, mobility of the neck, shoulder and ribs, nerve gliding and strengthening the muscles that support the shoulder girdle.

Rehabilitation after cervical, thoracic or lumbar fusion is a core part of the practice, from the first weeks after surgery through returning to the activities you love. See spine rehabilitation

Pain that has lasted more than a few months, including pain that continued after surgery, often needs a different approach than a new injury. The nervous system can become more sensitive over time, so the goal isn’t just to fix a structure but to help you gradually do more with less fear and fewer flare-ups.

That means patient, careful care: gentle hands-on treatment, graded activity that builds tolerance, and a clear understanding of what’s happening in your body.

You're not alone

Feeling like you've tried everything?

Many patients come to Empathy Physical Therapy after injections, chiropractic care, medications or other physical therapy haven't worked. A fresh, thorough look often finds something new to work with.

How we help

Treatment usually combines manual therapy, targeted exercise and education about your spine, with dry needling when it’s a good fit. Because we work in your home, we can address the specific movements that bother you, like getting out of bed, sitting at your desk or bending to garden.

How long does it take?

It varies. Many people with recent back or neck pain notice meaningful improvement within a few weeks. Chronic pain and nerve symptoms often take longer. After your evaluation, you’ll get an honest estimate.

When to see a doctor first

Get medical care right away if back or neck pain comes with:

  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Numbness in the groin or inner thighs
  • Rapidly worsening weakness in the legs or arms
  • Fever or unexplained weight loss
  • Pain after a significant fall or accident

Common questions

Should I rest my back until it feels better?

Usually, no. Short rest can help in the first day or two, but staying gently active tends to speed recovery.

Most people don’t. An evaluation can tell us a lot, and we’ll refer you to a physician if something needs imaging.

For many people, yes.

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