Back pain therapy in Chatsworth that finds the cause, not just the sore spot
About 60 minutes, one-on-one with Dr. Ed, every visit, and a home plan that keeps the relief going between sessions.
Who back pain therapy is for
Back pain brings more people to Chatsworth Physical Therapy than anything else. Most of them arrive in one of these situations.
- It has been weeks and it is not going away.Lower back pain that is now part of every morning, every car ride and every night, and the stretches from the internet have not touched it.
- It flared and you can barely move.You went to pick something up, or you simply stood up, and now getting in and out of the car or bed is a project. (One patient came in exactly like this and was moving comfortably by the end of the week; his review is below.)
- It runs down your leg.Sciatica, a pinched nerve or a disc problem: pain, tingling or numbness into the buttock, thigh or foot, with or without back pain.
- You have tried other things.Massage, a chiropractor, another physical therapist, and the relief never lasted more than a day or two.
- Your work or your sport keeps setting it off.Desk posture, driving, lifting, or a sport like gymnastics or golf that loads the spine the same way over and over.
What treatment looks like with Dr. Ed
The first visit is an evaluation of about 60 minutes, depending on what you need, one-on-one with Dr. Ed. He does not start with the sore spot. He watches how you stand, bend, twist, sit and walk, tests the hips, the mid-back and the muscles that are supposed to be holding the spine steady, and checks whether a nerve is involved. Back pain usually has a cause somewhere other than where it hurts, and the evaluation is where he finds it. Then he explains it in plain terms and tells you what the plan is.
Every visit after that is about 60 minutes with Dr. Ed, nobody else, and usually mixes:
- Hands-on manual therapy: joint mobilization and soft-tissue work to loosen what is stiff and calm what is irritated. Patients describe it as limited but very effective.
- Targeted strengthening for the deep core, the hips and the glutes, so the spine stops doing all the work.
- Posture and movement correction: how you sit at the desk, lift, get out of the car, sleep.
- Therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation and red light therapy where they speed tissue recovery or settle a muscle spasm.
- A short written home program, a few exercises you will actually do, adjusted every visit. Patients say the home tips are what keep the pain manageable between visits.
Dr. Ed does not just treat symptoms; the aim is to solve the underlying issue causing your back pain so it stops coming back. How many visits that takes depends on what the evaluation finds, so it is set after the first visit, not quoted up front. Evening and Saturday appointments are open until 8pm.
Back conditions treated
- Lower back pain, acute and chronic
- Sciatica and pinched nerves
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Muscle strains and spasms
- Degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the spine
- Postural back pain from desk work and driving
- Back pain in gymnasts, dancers and athletes (see sports injury recovery)
- Back pain after spinal surgery (see post-op physical therapy)
- Mid-back and neck pain that travels with the lower back
"I came in with severe back pain that made it difficult to get in and out of the car, bed, and just move around in general."
Insurance and referrals
You can usually be seen within days, which matters when your back has locked up.
- No referral needed to start
- California law lets you see a physical therapist without a referral for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. After that, we need a referral from your doctor to continue. Medicare patients need a referral from the start.
- Insurance
- We accept Medicare and personal injury liens. If you have PPO insurance, we provide a superbill, an itemized receipt you send to your insurer for reimbursement. Direct-pay patients are welcome.
- Visits
- Visits run about 60 minutes, depending on what you need, and every one is one-on-one with Dr. Ed.
Details and what to bring are on the insurance and cost page.
Common questions about back pain therapy
Can I come in while my back is still in spasm?
Yes, and it is a good time to come. Dr. Ed adjusts the first visit to what you can tolerate, and the goal of that visit is to get you moving more comfortably, not to put you through a workout.
Do I need an MRI or X-ray first?
No. Most back pain is diagnosed by how you move and what reproduces the pain, which is what the evaluation does. If imaging is needed, Dr. Ed will say so. If you already have it, bring the report.
How many visits will it take?
It depends on what is causing the pain and how long it has been there. Some patients feel a clear difference after the first visit; longer-standing problems take longer. Dr. Ed sets the plan after the evaluation and tells you if he thinks it will be short.
Will the treatment hurt?
Some hands-on work is uncomfortable for a moment, and you will be told before it happens. Nothing is forced, and you can stop anything at any time.
Can physical therapy help sciatica?
In most cases, yes. Treatment aims at what is irritating the nerve, usually a disc or a tight muscle in the hip, and at the movements that keep irritating it.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to start. California law lets you see a physical therapist without a referral for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. After that, we need a referral from your doctor to continue. Medicare patients need a referral from the start.
Book your back pain evaluation
Tell Dr. Ed where it hurts, how long it has been going on and what you have already tried. He will confirm your time by phone or email, usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call (818) 749-3205Dr. Ed answers his own phone.
19851 Nordhoff Place, Unit 105 (Suite C), Chatsworth, CA 91311
Mon to Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun closed. Free parking in the lot in front, no gate code, street parking available.
Book by phone
Call (818) 749-3205Mon to Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun closed
The online booking form opens here soon. Until then, call or email chatsworthpt@gmail.com and we confirm your time, usually the same day.
No payment is required to book.