Our Brentwood Chiropractic team continues to excel in providing unmatched care in north west Calgary. We thought, why not share some of the incredible stories we experience everyday. Let’s discuss the case of Patient X, and how back pain limited her ability to work and enjoy daily life. With support from the team at Optimum Wellness Centres – Brentwood, she was able to find lasting relief.
The Problem
A 54-year-old nurse [Patient X ] presented with acute low back pain (LBP) that was disrupting both work and home life. She reported difficulty completing 12-hour shifts due to pain with bending, transferring patients, and prolonged standing, plus trouble sleeping and getting comfortable in bed. Her biggest fear: missing shifts and losing confidence in her ability to keep up physically at work.
The Assessment With Our Brentwood Chiropractic Clinical Team
When [Patient X] came into our Brentwood clinic, she reported a sudden onset of low back pain after a physically demanding week of patient transfers and repositioning. Symptoms included:
- Pain rated 7/10 with bending and sit-to-stand
- Stiffness and guarding through lumbar paraspinals
- Reduced lumbar ROM, especially flexion
- Pain aggravated by prolonged standing/walking and getting in/out of a car
- No red flags reported (no saddle anesthesia, no progressive neuro deficit)
Orthopedic testing and motion palpation suggested a mechanical presentation consistent with acute lumbar facet irritation / segmental dysfunction with protective muscle spasm. Our clinical impression was acute mechanical LBP with suspected lumbar joint irritation, requiring rule-out imaging due to age, acute severity, and occupational demands.
Given her age (54) and acute presentation with high functional demands, we initiated a diagnostic imaging referral for lumbar spine X-ray to rule out underlying structural concerns and confirm appropriateness of conservative management.
The Integrated Treatment Plan From Our Brentwood Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Team
Chiropractic Care focused on reducing pain and restoring segmental mobility via:
- Gentle lumbar mobilization/manipulation as tolerated
- Soft tissue therapy to reduce guarding
- Education on positioning, load management, and modified duties
Physiotherapy targeted function and durability with:
- Movement retraining (hinge patterns, safe transfers, sit-to-stand mechanics)
- Graded exposure walking + tolerance-building for shifts
- Core + hip stabilization (McGill-inspired tolerance-based progressions)
- Return-to-work plan with staged workload increases
Optimum Mind and Movement products used:
- Optimum Relief Cream purchased to reduce inflammation and pain
- Optional: K-tape purchased
The Result
Within 10-14 days, pain reduced to 2-3/10, sleep improved, and she returned to modified duties without flare-ups. By 4-6 weeks, she returned to full shifts with improved lifting mechanics and a maintenance plan to prevent recurrence.
Why The Care Plan Worked
This plan from Optimum Wellness Centres – Brentwood succeeded because we combined: early rule-out imaging, fast symptom control, and a durable return-to-work strategy. The integrated approach with physiotherapy & chiropractic care addressed both the immediate pain generator (joint irritation + guarding) and the long-term driver (repetitive load + movement habits), allowing her to regain confidence and capacity, without relying on rest alone.
If you are experiencing pain or your function at work or home is affected, we can help! Our integrated teams in Alberta combine the knowledge of many to promote a speedy and lasting recovery, for Optimum Wellness. Contact us today or book online!