Chronic Low Back Pain and Chiropractic

San Francisco Chiropractor and Chronic Back Pain Doctor Comments:

Chronic back pain is not much fun...sometimes nothing seems to help. Some chronic low back pain  patients have tried medications, physical therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and everything else under the sun...often times with very little or no results. But they still have not tried chiropractic care.

I'm amazed sometimes that patients wait so long before giving chiropractic a shot. After all...chiropractic IS the worlds largest, drugless, healing profession. And, Low Back Pain is one of the most common conditions we treat...often times with great success, when nothing else would help.

I think some people a scared that the chiropractic adjustments will hurt...or that it will be expensive...or that they will have to see the chiropractor forever.  Well...I understand...there is a lot of information floating around out there...and some of it is not very accurate.

Sure, chiropractic treatments can be a little uncomfortable if someone has acute low back pain. But for the most part, a skilled doctor of chiropractic will start off very gently...often times you can barely feel it. We can even use non-force techniques when indicated.

As far as chiropractic medicine being expensive...I guess it depends on what you are comparing it to. Compared to back surgery it's not expensive. Compared to an aspirin I guess it is.  At my San Francisco Chronic Back Pain Center-treatments run in the $50-$100 range, plus x-rays and modalities. About the same as physical therapy. Often times insurance will pick up some or most of the costs...it just depends on your specific health plan (call 415-392-2225 for a complimentary benefits check).

How long you need to see a chiropractor for your low back pain depends on the severity of your condition. A set of x-rays and a physical exam will help determine what is best for you.

Treatment programs at my SF Back Pain Center are anywhere from 10-40 visits, occasionally less...occasionally more. There is no cookbook approach...everyone is different...it just depends on your individual clinical presentation.

It's true that some patients see the chiropractor forever...for maintenance care...maybe once per month. But...they do it because they want to...they like the way they feel when they do. At my clinic, about half my patients choose maintenance care...it just makes sense. After all, we take our car in for an oil change and a tuneup every so often. What do we need more...a car or a healthy body?

The bottom line is...chiropractic is an effective, affordable, solution for chronic low back pain, and should be at the top of the list...not at the bottom.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for chronic back pain care at our San Francisco Financial District Chiropractic Center...please call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation.