Why So Many Back Pain Treatments Fail (And What Actually Works)

INTRO: You’ve Tried Everything. So Why Are You Still in Pain?

If you’re dealing with low back pain that just won't quit — and you've already done the physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, maybe even injections or surgery — you're not alone.

Every year, millions of people go through the exact same cycle: temporary relief, followed by recurring pain, frustration, and more appointments.

So what gives? Why is it so hard to fix low back pain?

Let’s break down what most treatments miss, what your MRI isn't telling you, and why the real answer might come down to one overlooked word: adhesion.

The Reality of Chronic Low Back Pain

540 million people experience low back pain globally
It's the #1 cause of disability worldwide
Most cases are labeled "non-specific low back pain"

Translation: You're in pain, but your imaging looks "fine."

So you get stuck on what we call the Medical Merry-Go-Round:

Pain starts
Rest and ice
PT (maybe a little relief)
Adjustments (feel good, pain returns)
Pain management (injections)
Surgery (sometimes helpful, often temporary)
Pain returns

If this sounds familiar, you're not crazy. You're just missing a key piece of the puzzle.

Why Back Pain Often Comes Back

Let’s get real: back pain isn't just about discs and bones.

The muscles, nerves, and fascia that surround your spine play a major role in movement and stability. When these tissues develop adhesion (microscopic scar tissue), they stick together and limit motion, trap nerves, and cause dysfunction.

But here's the kicker: adhesion doesn’t show up on imaging.

You can have:

A normal MRI
No visible injury
And still be in pain every day

That’s because traditional scans can’t see adhesion.

And most providers don’t assess or treat it directly.

What Adhesion Does to Your Back

Imagine a rubber band stuck to dried glue. That’s your muscle or nerve with adhesion.

Adhesion in the low back:

Decreases spinal mobility
Traps nerves (like the sciatic or cluneal nerves)
Makes other tissues overwork to compensate
Leads to tightness, pain, and eventually breakdown

Common Symptoms of Undiagnosed Adhesion:

Pain when bending forward or sitting too long
Stiffness getting out of bed
"Pinching" or catching sensation with movement
Numbness or tingling in the hip or leg

Common Treatments (And Why They Miss the Mark)

Here’s why some of the most common back pain treatments don’t create lasting results:

Physical Therapy & Exercise: Great for building strength and control, but if there’s adhesion or restricted tissue, you’re trying to strengthen something that’s still stuck.
Chiropractic Adjustments: Helpful for joint motion, but often overlook the muscles, fascia, and nerves that are actually causing the restriction.
Massage Therapy: Feels good and may offer temporary relief, but it usually isn’t targeted enough to break up deep adhesion.
Injections: Reduce inflammation, but don’t address the mechanical cause of pain. They can mask symptoms but not fix the problem.
Surgery: Necessary in some cases, but often done when soft tissue treatments were never fully explored. Plus, surgery itself can lead to new adhesion.

These can all play a role — but when adhesion is the missing piece, none of them will fix the root cause on their own.

So What Does Work?

You need a treatment that:

Finds the exact restriction
Confirms it with movement testing
Treats it precisely and non-invasively
Re-tests immediately to confirm change

That system is called Adhesion Release Methods™ (ARM).

What Is ARM?

ARM is a 6-step treatment system designed to find and fix adhesion in muscles, nerves, and fascia.

How it works:

History: Strategic questions that point to likely restricted tissues
Movement Tests: We find out what’s stuck and how badly
Palpation: We physically feel for adhesion in deep tissues
Treatment: Hands-on removal or tool-assisted work
Re-Test: We check range and pain immediately after
Progress Tracking: You see change from session to session

This isn’t guesswork. It’s a step-by-step system built to produce real change in real time.

What Makes ARM Different

It’s not massage
It’s not random soft tissue work
It’s not based on what "feels tight"

Instead, ARM focuses on:

Palpation of specific structures
Movement tests that are repeatable
Measurable functional changes

You’re not just hoping to feel better. You’re watching your range, strength, and symptoms improve in real-time.

How Many Visits Will I Need?

Most chronic back pain cases require 12–16 visits or more to fully address layers of adhesion.

Some people feel better within 3–5 visits, but lasting change takes consistency.

FAQs

"Is this the same as ART or Graston?"
Nope. ARM is its own method, with specific steps, deeper palpation, and constant re-testing. It's not a technique. It's a system.

"Will this hurt?"
You may feel some pressure, but it's controlled and purposeful. Most patients describe it as a "hurts so good" release.

"What if I’ve had surgery?"
Post-surgical patients often respond really well since adhesion forms during healing. ARM is ideal for helping restore post-op motion.