Why does your back hurt? A free book that helps you find out.
Why Your Back Hurts by Jim Goetz is an evidence-based guide to back pain, sciatica and referred pain: what to check first, what usually causes it, and how to find your path to recovery. Read it free: we text you the link to the complete book, all 28 chapters.
Paperback $17.99 on Amazon. The digital edition is free here.
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Your number is how the book reaches you. We text you the link and a few back tips, and nothing you didn’t ask for; reply STOP any time.
Check this first
From the book’s first pages, “Read This First: When Back Pain Is an Emergency”. Most back pain is not dangerous. If any item applies to you, stop reading and get help.
Call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency department now if you have back pain with any of these:
- New or worsening difficulty starting to urinate, not being able to feel urine flowing, or not being able to pass urine at all.
- New loss of control of your bladder or bowels, or loss of the normal feeling of a full rectum.
- New or worsening numbness or changed feeling in the “saddle” area: between your legs, around your genitals, your inner buttocks, or around your anus.
- New loss of genital sensation or sexual function.
- Weakness in a leg or foot that is new, spreading, or getting worse, such as a foot that drags or slaps when you walk.
- Sudden, severe pain in your back, chest, or belly that is at its worst within seconds or minutes (it may feel tearing, ripping, sharp, or stabbing), especially with dizziness, fainting, a racing heart, or a cold, pale, or weak leg.
- Chest pain or pressure, which may spread to your arm, jaw, or back, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea; or pain or pressure in the upper back or between the shoulder blades that comes on with exertion or with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness.
- Sudden shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or chest pain that worsens when you breathe in, especially with a racing heart or a swollen, painful calf.
- Sudden severe belly or pelvic pain with vomiting or a hard, rigid belly; vomiting blood; or black, tarry stools.
- Fainting or collapse.
- Fever with back pain and you feel very unwell, especially if you inject drugs, have a weakened immune system, or recently had a spinal procedure.
- Severe back pain after a serious fall, car crash, or other major injury.
- You are or could be pregnant and have belly or pelvic pain with vaginal bleeding, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness, or fainting.
These signs count even if one started days or weeks ago, unless a clinician has already checked that symptom.
Get seen the same day (your doctor, urgent care, or the emergency department if you cannot be seen) if you have back pain with:
- Pain, numbness, or tingling that runs down both legs.
- Fever or chills, or burning when you pee, or blood in your urine.
- A history of cancer.
- Sudden new pain after a fall, a lift, or a sudden movement, if you are older, have osteoporosis, or have taken steroid medicines for a long time.
- Pregnancy, with regular tightening, cramping, or a new dull low backache before 37 weeks (call your maternity unit or obstetric provider now).
If any of these comes with new numbness, tingling, shooting leg pain, weakness, or trouble walking, go to the emergency department now.
See a clinician within a few days if:
- New numbness or tingling in one leg, without weakness and without any emergency sign above.
- Severe or constant pain that is not settling, keeps getting worse, does not change with position or movement, or wakes you at night.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Back pain that began before age 45, has lasted 3 months or more, and comes with morning stiffness of more than 30 minutes that eases with movement.
- Pain that has not improved after about a month.
This list cannot cover everything. If you feel something is seriously wrong, trust that feeling and get checked.
Educational, not a diagnosis. Quoted from Why Your Back Hurts, pp. v–vi.
Which kind of back pain is this?
Three questions point you to the chapters that fit. Where pain shows up is a clue, not the answer: the book calls these “clues, not proof”.
Educational, not a diagnosis. Your answers stay in your browser: nothing is saved or sent.
“I can’t say enough great things bout Dr.”
Individual experiences shared by patients; results vary.
What's inside
- Part I, Recognize. What pain actually is, why different people hurt differently, the words that confuse us (sciatica, lumbago), and why your MRI is not your destiny.
- Part II, Screen. The red flags you must not ignore, back pain that is not coming from your back, and whether a medication could be contributing.
- Part III, Investigate. Where it hurts versus what hurts, referred pain, the muscles and fascia around the back, movement patterns, and how a clinician forms a working hypothesis.
- Part IV, Intervene. Movement and exercise, a daily core program from beginner to advanced, back belts, hands-on care, medications and supplements, and when conservative care is not enough.
- Part V, Reassess and Progress. Sitting, work and sleep, stress and persistent pain, and your personal back-health plan.
- Appendices A–G, including the warning-sign checklist and questions to bring to your visit.
28 chapters, 342 pages, research current to October 2026. The free download is the complete book, the same text as the paperback.
Who wrote it
What patients say
“Dr. Mike at FIT Clinic is hands-down the best chiropractor I’ve seen. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, thorough, and truly cares about long-term wellness. I’ve seen real improvements thanks to his personalized care. Highly recommend!”
“I can’t say enough great things bout Dr. Brandon. As a competitive athlete with Spartan races and CrossFit, I’m constantly challenging my body and Dr. Brandon has been able to “fix” me on several occasions so I could compete. His knowledge and experience never cease to amaze me and I recommend him to my gym and friends.”
“Dr. Mike & the staff are very friendly & professional. They really know how to help improve your quality of life.. I went in to see them & after a couple of visits with Dr. Mike he made me feel relax & got my range of motion with my back good again.”
Individual experiences shared by patients; results vary.
Questions
Is the book really free?
Yes. Enter your first name and mobile number and we text you the link: no card and no appointment. The free download is the complete book, the same text as the paperback.
Is this book about sciatica too?
Yes. Chapter 4 explains what “sciatica” means and why the word is used so loosely, Chapter 10 covers referred pain, and Chapter 15 explains how a clinician checks for a nerve root.
Can the book tell me what is wrong with my back?
No. It is educational, not a diagnosis. It helps you check for warning signs first, understand the likely kinds of pain, and bring better questions to a clinician.
I live near Colts Neck. Can someone look at my back?
Yes. Dr. Michael Brandon, DC, sees patients at FIT Clinic, 8 Merchants Way, Colts Neck, NJ. Book a visit or call or text 848-301-1515.
Do you serve the rest of Monmouth County?
Yes. Patients come from Freehold, Holmdel, Marlboro, Middletown, Red Bank, Tinton Falls and nearby towns.
What will you text me?
The download link, then a few back tips over the next month. Reply STOP any time.
Information on this site is educational and is not a substitute for an examination.