Can a chiropractor help my back pain?
Back pain
Yes, and usually faster than people expect. Most back pain comes from joints that stopped moving properly and muscles that tightened up to protect them. Dr. Frank finds the joint that is stuck, restores its motion, and takes the pressure off. Many patients feel a real difference on the first visit.
What it usually looks like
- Pain that is worse in the morning
- Pain when you bend or twist
- A catch or lock in one spot
- Pain that moves into the hip or leg
How Dr. Frank treats it
Exam first, then an adjustment, flexion-distraction, or decompression depending on what is actually wrong. You leave knowing what it is and how long it should take.
Why it happens
What causes back pain
Joints that stopped moving
The small facet joints of the low back are built to glide. When one locks, the muscles around it clamp down to protect it, and that muscle guarding is most of what you feel. Restore the joint and the muscle lets go.
A disc under strain
Bending, lifting, and long sitting load the discs. A strained disc hurts in the morning, with coughing, and when you sit, and it can send pain into the hip or leg.
Deconditioning and stress
A back that has not moved much for years has less margin. Add a stressful month and poor sleep and the same lift that was fine in March hurts in April. Care fixes the joint; the plan you leave with keeps it fixed.
What to expect
Visit one, and how long it takes
Your first visit
Dr. Frank asks what you were doing when it started, what makes it worse, and what you have already tried. He examines the joints, the discs, and the nerves, and explains what he found in plain English. If it is safe to treat, you are adjusted the same day. Most people walk out moving better than they walked in.
How many visits
Most everyday back pain improves inside 4 to 6 visits over two to three weeks. Dr. Frank tells you on day one what he expects, and if the plan is not working by visit four, he changes it or refers you.
When it is not a chiropractic problem
See a medical doctor first if you have
- Back pain with fever, or after a fall or accident with severe pain
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin (go to the ER)
- Pain that wakes you at night and does not change with position, or unexplained weight loss
Dr. Frank screens for every one of these on visit one and refers out when he finds them. If any of them is happening right now, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Questions
About back pain
How long until my back pain gets better?
Most everyday back pain improves inside 4 to 6 visits. Dr. Frank gives you a straight answer on day one, not an open-ended plan.
Do I need an MRI first?
No. Dr. Frank examines you and tells you if imaging is needed. Most cases do not need it.
Is it safe to get adjusted?
For most back pain, yes. Dr. Frank examines you first and does not adjust anyone with the warning signs listed above. Side effects are usually a day of soreness, like after a workout.
Should I use ice or heat?
Ice for the first 48 hours of a fresh injury, heat for a stiff back that has been that way for weeks. If you are not sure, ice.
How much does a visit cost?
We are a cash-pay office and do not bill or accept health insurance. The first visit, exam and treatment included, is $99. Follow-up visits are priced on the care plan Dr. Frank maps out for you on day one, and Cherry financing is available.
Can I come in the same day?
Often. Text (689) 318-4081 and Ava will show you what is open today.
The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination, or treatment that is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination, or treatment.
Reviewed by Dr. Frank Comparetti, D.C. Last updated September 28, 2026.
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