You pick up a box, unload the car, move a planter, or finish a set at the gym—and suddenly your lower back hurts.
Now getting out of a chair feels difficult. You are wondering whether to stretch, lie down, book an appointment, or wait for it to pass.
People often call this “throwing your back out.” That phrase describes an experience, but it does not tell you what happened or which treatment is appropriate.
If your back suddenly hurts after lifting, stop the task, check for warning signs, and choose your next step based on your symptoms—not a guess about what is “out of place.”
This guide is for adults deciding what to do about a new episode of low back pain. At Firm Foundation Wellness Center in Old Town Keller, the first step is understanding your history and examining the concern before recommending care.
First, know when to seek medical care
Seek emergency care for new bladder or bowel problems, groin numbness, or weakness/numbness in both legs. Back pain with chest pain or after a serious accident also needs emergency care. Call 911 when needed. [1]
Seek urgent medical evaluation for sudden severe pain, rapid worsening, fever, or new leg weakness. Tell a medical clinician about cancer history, unexplained weight loss, night pain, a fall, osteoporosis, or long-term steroid use. [1, 2]
These examples are not a complete checklist. Severe or unusual symptoms should not wait for a routine chiropractic appointment.
Does sudden pain mean you damaged a disc?
Not necessarily. Muscle or ligament strain can cause new back pain, and discs or other structures may be involved. The circumstances alone cannot identify the cause. [2]
“It happened when I lifted” is useful information. It is not a diagnosis.
A useful examination asks more than where it hurts. What were you doing? Did symptoms begin immediately or later? Are they staying in your back or traveling into a leg? What can you still do comfortably? Has this happened before?
Bring that history to your appointment. You do not need to repeat the painful lift to demonstrate it.
What can you do while deciding about an appointment?
If there are no warning signs, gentle activity and position changes may be more helpful than prolonged bed rest. Try a short, comfortable walk if tolerated. Temporarily reduce tasks that aggravate symptoms, and avoid forcing stretches or repeating painful lifts. Stop an exercise that makes pain worse. [1]
Superficial heat is one non-drug option for acute low back pain. Protect your skin and follow the product instructions. Ask a pharmacist or medical clinician about medication choices; suitability depends on your health history. [1, 3]
You do not have to prove that you can push through a workout. The immediate decision is how to manage the episode safely, followed by a plan for returning to the demands that matter to you.
When should you book a back pain examination?
Consider an evaluation when pain disrupts your normal activities, leaves you uncertain about movement, or is not improving. You can seek help before it has persisted for weeks. [1]
For example, think about what you need to do tomorrow:
- Can you get dressed, drive, and manage your workday?
- Are you avoiding ordinary tasks because you do not know whether they are safe?
- Have you had several similar episodes without a clear plan between them?
These questions help communicate the impact of the problem. They do not determine the diagnosis or replace medical screening.
An appointment should give you an explanation, practical guidance, and a way to assess progress—not simply a treatment schedule.
Can chiropractic care help after a lifting injury?
For some people with uncomplicated low back pain, spinal manipulation may be an option. The American College of Physicians includes it among non-drug treatments for acute or subacute nonradicular low back pain, while noting that many episodes improve over time regardless of treatment. The evidence supporting manipulation in that recommendation is low quality. [3]
That means an adjustment is an option to discuss, not an automatic requirement or a guaranteed solution.
NICE guidance recommends considering manual therapy for low back pain only within a treatment package that includes exercise. [4] This supports a broader conversation about activity, rehabilitation, and what you need to return to.
At Firm Foundation Wellness Center, Dr. Corey Strunk considers your examination findings, preferences, and goals when discussing chiropractic care and rehabilitation. Depending on the situation, recommendations may include hands-on care, individualized exercise, activity changes, or referral.
Do you need an X-ray or MRI first?
Imaging is not routinely recommended for uncomplicated low back pain in a nonspecialist setting. It may be appropriate when findings suggest a serious cause or when the result would change management. [4]
The decision starts with your history and examination, rather than requiring every patient to have a scan.
If you already have imaging, bring the report. Our article about pain despite a normal X-ray or MRI explains why imaging is only part of the evaluation.
Bring the task—not just the pain—to your appointment
“I want my back to feel better” is a reasonable goal. You can also tell us what better needs to let you do.
Maybe you need to lift supplies at work, carry groceries, help a family member, or return to strength training. Those are different demands, and your plan should account for them.
Useful details to bring include the task that triggered symptoms, any recent changes in activity, previous episodes, and what you have already tried. Tell Dr. Corey which activities are most important to you and what worries you about returning to them.
If your symptoms settle but return every time you exercise, our guide to pain that returns when you resume exercise explores that separate pattern.
What your first visit in Old Town Keller includes
Firm Foundation Wellness Center is a locally owned, self-pay chiropractic practice at 140 Pecan St, Keller, TX 76248. Visits are one-on-one with Dr. Corey Strunk.
The $49 new patient visit includes consultation, examination, personalized assessment, explanation of findings, and a first adjustment when clinically appropriate. Allow approximately 45–60 minutes.
Standard follow-up visits are $65. Optional prepaid packages and memberships are also available. You can ask about payment options before agreeing to care; the examination and your goals guide the recommendations.
Insurance is not required. Read about self-pay care and payment options, or see what to expect at your first visit.
If a new episode of back pain is interrupting your day, start with a clearer understanding of what is happening and what to do next.
Book your $49 new patient examination, call 817-776-1023, or text the office.
Common questions
Can I get adjusted on the first visit?
When your history and examination indicate that treatment is appropriate, a first adjustment can be included. If further evaluation or referral should come first, Dr. Corey will explain that recommendation.
Do I have to buy a package?
No. Individual visits are available. Packages and memberships are optional payment choices, and you can discuss the costs before deciding.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear comfortable clothing and complete your intake forms before arriving. Bring relevant medical information or imaging reports and your questions.
Educational information only. This article cannot diagnose your symptoms or determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate for you. Individual recommendations require a personal history and examination.
Sources
- NHS: Back pain. Reviewed March 5, 2026.
- MedlinePlus: Low back pain—acute. Reviewed June 27, 2026.
- American College of Physicians: Guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain.
- NICE NG59: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s—recommendations.