Back Pain Chiropractor in Stockton, CA
You Are Not Alone
About 80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives, and back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a healthcare provider. The good news is that the great majority of back pain responds well to conservative care like chiropractic, especially when treatment starts early. Surgery and long-term opioid use are almost never the right first step.
Causes of Back Pain We Treat
Back pain is rarely about a single thing. We commonly help patients recover from muscle strains from lifting, twisting, or overuse, sacroiliac joint dysfunction (the joint where your pelvis meets your spine), disc bulges and herniations (also see our herniated disc page), facet joint irritation, postural pain from sitting at a desk all day, sciatica and pinched nerves (see our sciatica page), and recurring back pain that has never been properly evaluated. If your back pain started after a car accident, our low back pain after auto accident page covers that specifically.
Our Approach
The first visit is about figuring out exactly what is going on. Most back pain is treatable but treatment depends entirely on the cause. We do a thorough exam including orthopedic and neurological testing, and we order imaging only when the clinical picture suggests it will change the plan. Once we know the mechanism, we build a treatment plan around it.
What Treatment Looks Like
Back pain treatment typically combines several elements: chiropractic adjustments to restore joint motion, soft tissue work to release tight muscles around the painful area, therapeutic exercises to retrain stability, modalities such as electrical stimulation or ice and heat where appropriate, and ergonomic guidance about your daily activities and sleep position.
How Many Visits Will I Need?
Acute back pain (less than a month old) usually responds in 6 to 12 visits, sometimes fewer. Chronic back pain (lasting more than three months) takes longer, typically 8 to 16 visits to get you to a stable baseline, and many patients then move to a maintenance schedule of one to two visits per month. We will be honest with you about what to expect and we re-evaluate progress every few weeks.
When Back Pain Is an Emergency
Most back pain is not an emergency. However, you should seek immediate medical attention, not chiropractic, if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive weakness in your legs, numbness in the saddle area between your legs, severe back pain after major trauma, or back pain with fever, weight loss, or a history of cancer. We will refer you appropriately if anything in your exam raises these concerns.
What You Can Do Right Now
While you wait for your appointment, gentle walking is usually better than bed rest. Use ice for the first 48 hours of an acute injury (20 minutes on, 20 off), then transition to heat. Avoid prolonged sitting and lifting anything heavy. If pain is severe, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories can help short-term. Do not push through sharp pain. Call us at (209) 477-7777 if you are unsure what to do.
Schedule an Appointment
Most new patients are seen the same day they call. Reach us at (209) 477-7777 or through our contact page. We are at 4560 N. Pershing Ave, Ste. A, Stockton, CA 95207. Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-7pm, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 9am-11am.
Related Reading: Chronic Back Pain: Why It Persists and What Actually Works