Lower Back Pain Treatment in Long Island & Queens

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons adults see a doctor, and the great majority of episodes are mechanical and improve within a few weeks. Most patients do not need imaging or surgery. The job of a good spine practice is to rule out the rare serious causes, keep you moving, and escalate only when the pattern calls for it.

Medically reviewed by Kanwarpaul Grewal, DO — Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, UCSF Complex Spine & Deformity Fellowship. Reviewed July 2026.

Quick facts

Fact	Detail
Lifetime prevalence	Up to 80% of adults
Most episodes	Mechanical; improve in 2–6 weeks
Need surgery	A small minority
Imaging	Not routine without red flags
First-line care	Stay active + physical therapy

What causes lower back pain?

Most back pain is “mechanical” — from muscles, ligaments, discs, and facet joints — without a single identifiable lesion. Specific causes include disc problems, facet arthritis, SI joint dysfunction, stenosis, and, rarely, fracture, infection, or tumor. Distinguishing ordinary mechanical pain from the rare serious cause is the first priority.

Is my back pain serious? Red flags

Most back pain is not dangerous. But certain features warrant prompt evaluation: pain after significant trauma, fever with back pain, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, night pain that won’t ease, or any leg weakness, numbness in the saddle area, or bladder/bowel changes. These point to fracture, infection, tumor, or nerve compression.

How we evaluate it

We take a careful history and examine you, screening specifically for red flags. Guidelines advise against routine X-ray or MRI for typical back pain in the first several weeks, because imaging findings are common in pain-free people and rarely change early management. We image when red flags are present or when we’re planning an intervention.

Treatment: what actually works

The evidence favors staying active, physical therapy, and time. We build a plan around movement, not rest: guided exercise at Go Rehab, activity pacing, and non-opioid pain strategies. For persistent or nerve-related pain, targeted injections with our interventional team can help. Surgery is reserved for specific structural problems, not back pain alone.

When to see a specialist

See us if pain is severe, isn’t improving after a few weeks, radiates down a leg, or comes with any neurological symptoms. Early specialist input helps avoid both under-treatment and unnecessary procedures.

When to seek emergency care Back pain with fever, saddle numbness, new leg weakness, or bladder/bowel changes Seek emergency care — these can indicate infection or cauda equina syndrome.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an MRI for back pain?

Usually not in the first few weeks, unless red flags are present.

What percentage of back pain needs surgery?

Only a small minority; most is managed without surgery.

Is it a muscle or a disc?

Muscle pain tends to be local and movement-related; disc pain often radiates into the leg. An exam clarifies it.

Should I rest or stay active?

Stay active within comfort. Prolonged bed rest slows recovery.

Can stress cause back pain?

Stress and poor sleep can amplify pain, though they’re rarely the sole cause.

When should I worry?

Fever, trauma, weight loss, night pain, cancer history, or leg weakness/numbness — get seen promptly.

Sources: American College of Physicians — Noninvasive Treatments for Low Back Pain (Ann Intern Med); NASS clinical guidelines; AAOS OrthoInfo — Low Back Pain.

Four offices across Long Island & Queens

East Meadow · Westbury · Lindenhurst · Elmhurst (Queens). Same-week appointments. Most major insurance, Medicare, workers’ comp and no-fault accepted. Care available in English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, and Spanish.