Back pain is one of the most common reasons people come to Golden Bear Chiropractic. Sometimes it starts with a specific moment, like lifting a box, a long drive, or a new workout. Often it builds slowly from work, sleep, or stress until it is just always there. Either way, the goal is the same: figure out what is driving your pain and give you a plan that fits your body and your life.
What back pain can feel like
Everyone describes it a little differently. Common patterns include:
- A dull ache or tightness across the low back that is worse after sitting or first thing in the morning
- Sharp or catching pain when you bend, twist, or get up from a chair
- Mid-back stiffness between the shoulder blades, often from desk work or looking down at a phone
- Muscle spasms that make it hard to stand up straight
- Pain that travels into the buttock or down the leg, which may be sciatica
When chiropractic care may be a good fit
Most back pain is what clinicians call non-specific: it is real and it hurts, but it is not caused by a fracture, infection, or another serious medical problem. For most people with that kind of back pain, clinical guidelines recommend starting with conservative, non-drug care: staying active, hands-on treatment, and exercise. That is the kind of care Golden Bear provides.
Chiropractic care is not right for every back problem, and part of your first visit is making sure it is right for yours.
When to get medical care instead: seek care from a physician or urgent care right away if back pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, new or worsening leg weakness, fever, or unexplained weight loss, or if it follows a serious fall or accident. Call 911 in an emergency.
How Dr. Corey evaluates back pain
Your first visit is 75–90 minutes. It starts with a detailed history: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, how it affects sleep, work, and exercise, and what you have already tried. Then comes a full physical workup, including:
- Posture, gait, and how you move when you bend and twist
- Range of motion and joint mobility through the spine and hips
- Muscle strength, reflexes, and sensation, to check how the nerves are working
- Orthopedic tests to narrow down which structures are involved
If anything in your history or exam suggests you need imaging or a physician's evaluation first, Dr. Corey will tell you and refer you out.
What treatment may include
Treatment is based on what the exam finds and what you are comfortable with. Depending on your presentation, it may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments, using hands-on, drop-table, or gentler instrument-based techniques
- Hands-on muscle work such as trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and assisted stretching
- A home exercise program to build strength and mobility between visits
- Practical guidance on sitting, lifting, sleep positions, and staying active
You will always know what is being done and why, and you are welcome to ask for a different approach at any point.
Learn about soft-tissue and muscle work →
What your first appointment looks like
Book online, complete your intake forms ahead of time, and plan for 75–90 minutes. The intake visit includes your history, exam, and a treatment plan, plus an adjustment or muscle work that day if it is appropriate. Pricing is flat and published before you book. Golden Bear is out-of-network with insurance, and a superbill is available on request if you want to submit to your plan yourself.
Between visits
For most back pain, gentle movement helps more than bed rest. Short walks, changing positions often, and the specific exercises from your home program usually do more than waiting it out on the couch.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral or X-rays before my first visit?
You do not need a referral to see a chiropractor in California. Most people with back pain do not need imaging before starting conservative care. If your history or exam suggests you do, Dr. Corey will refer you.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on how long you have had the pain, what is driving it, and your goals. After your exam you will get a recommended plan with a re-evaluation checkpoint, so you can see whether it is working before committing to more.
I have never been to a chiropractor. Do I have to get the popping kind of adjustment?
No. Gentler options are available, including instrument-assisted and muscle energy techniques, and some visits focus mainly on muscle work. Tell Dr. Corey what you are comfortable with.
Do you work with people who are active or train regularly?
Yes. If your goal is getting back to running, lifting, climbing, or simply walking without pain, your plan is built around that activity.