Why Your Back Pain Isn’t Actually a Back Problem

By Dr. Yaron Lohr,
Founder of Posture Perfect Wellness Center

Serving patients throughout Dallas and McKinney

If you’re dealing with back pain, your instinct is probably the same as most people’s:

“Something must be wrong with my back.”

But after years of evaluating and treating patients at our Dallas and McKinney locations, I can tell you something surprising — and reassuring:

In many cases, back pain is not actually a back problem.

It’s a signal that something else in the body isn’t doing its job.

Why the Back Gets Blamed

The back sits in the middle of everything:

• It connects the upper and lower body

• It absorbs force from daily movement

• It compensates when other areas aren’t moving well

So when something above or below isn’t functioning properly, the back often pays the price.

That’s why people feel pain there — even when the real issue is somewhere else.

Common Sources of “Back” Pain That Aren’t the Back

1. Hip Restrictions

Stiff or weak hips force the lower back to move more than it should.

This often leads to:

• Low back tightness

• Pain with bending or standing

• Discomfort after sitting

Correcting hip mechanics can dramatically reduce back strain.

2. Poor Postural Habits

Long hours sitting, working, or driving change how load travels through the spine.

Over time, this leads to:

• Muscle fatigue

• Joint stress

• Reduced spinal movement

The back hurts — but posture is the driver.

3. Core Weakness or Poor Coordination

Your core is meant to support the spine.

When it doesn’t:

• The back overworks

• Muscles tighten defensively

• Pain becomes chronic

This isn’t about “six-pack strength” — it’s about proper activation and timing.

4. Old Injuries You Forgot About

Past injuries — even ones that “healed” — often change how you move.

An old ankle, knee, or hip issue can:

• Shift weight unevenly

• Alter movement patterns

• Create stress higher up the chain

The back becomes the victim, not the culprit.

5. Nervous System Overload

Stress, poor sleep, and chronic tension keep the nervous system in a heightened state.

When that happens:

• Muscles stay tight

• Pain thresholds drop

• Healing slows

The back often becomes the place where this overload shows up.

Why Imaging Doesn’t Always Give Answers

Many patients are told:

• “Your MRI looks fine”

• “There’s nothing serious going on”

• “It’s just wear and tear”

Yet the pain is very real.

That’s because many back pain causes are functional, not structural:

• How joints move

• How muscles coordinate

• How force is distributed

These don’t always show up clearly on scans.

A Smarter Way to Evaluate Back Pain

At Posture Perfect Wellness Center, we don’t start by chasing the painful spot.

We look at:

• How your body moves as a system

• Where motion is restricted

• Where compensation is occurring

• How stress and posture are influencing symptoms

When the true driver is addressed, back pain often improves faster — and stays away longer.

Why Back Pain Keeps Returning

If back pain keeps coming back, it usually means:

• The source wasn’t identified

• The body returned to old habits

• Strength and movement weren’t retrained

Relief without correction leads to repetition.

When You Should Get Checked

You should consider an evaluation if:

• Back pain keeps coming back

• Pain shifts or changes locations

• Sitting, standing, or driving worsen symptoms

• Pain limits daily activities

• You’ve “tried everything” without lasting results

Those are signs the problem may not be where you think it is.

Final Thought

Back pain is common — but it’s often misunderstood.

When you stop treating the back as the problem and start identifying why it’s overloaded, real progress becomes possible.

Ready to Find the Real Cause?

At Posture Perfect Wellness Center, we help patients across Dallas and McKinney, Texas uncover what’s actually driving their back pain and create a clear plan forward.