Low back pain
Back Pain Chiropractor in La Jolla
Get your back out of the conversation.
Chiropractic care is a first-line, evidence-supported treatment for low back pain — the single most common thing I treat in my La Jolla practice. My approach pairs hands-on relief with reformer-based strength work, because a back that's only been adjusted isn't as resilient as a back that's also been trained.
What it looks like
The back pain I see most often.
Low back pain has many faces — sharp and sudden, dull and constant, or the kind that only shows up when you've been sitting too long. Most of it is mechanical, and most of it responds to care.
The morning lock-up
Stiff and guarded first thing, loosening as the day goes on. Usually joint restriction plus deconditioned deep core support — both very treatable.
Sharp pain with bending or lifting
The classic tweak — reaching for something trivial and getting stopped cold. Often a facet joint or SI joint irritation with protective spasm.
Sitting pain & desk-driven ache
Pain that builds through the workday and eases when you move. Sitting load plus weak hips is the usual pattern. Desk-worker care →
Pain that runs into the hip or leg
When back pain travels down the leg, the sciatic nerve is often involved — that changes how I treat it. Sciatica care →
Post-accident back pain
Lumbar sprains and disc irritation are common after collisions, even minor ones. Auto accident care →
The recurring episode
Fine for months, then out again. Recurrence is a pattern problem, not bad luck — and patterns are exactly what movement therapy addresses.
How I treat it
Relief first. Resilience second.
Adjustments calm the acute episode. The reformer work that follows is what keeps the next episode from happening.
Chiropractic adjustments
Specific, hands-on adjustments to restore motion where joints have stopped moving well — always modified to your comfort, body type, and pain level.
Soft tissue & cupping
Myofascial release, trigger point work, and cupping to release the muscle tension that builds around the problem — often where the pain actually lives.
Movement therapy
Corrective exercise that addresses why the problem keeps coming back — compensations, weak links, and habits your body picked up along the way.
Reformer Pilates
When you're ready, private reformer work rebuilds strength and control so the relief holds. It's the difference between feeling better and staying better.
What to expect
Your first visit, step by step.
Every new patient starts with a 50-minute New Patient Exam ($150) — so treatment is based on what your body actually shows, not assumptions.
Conversation first
We start by talking — your history, your goals, what makes it better or worse. You'll never feel rushed through this part.
Physical & movement exam
I assess how you move, not just where it hurts — because the cause and the symptom are often in different places.
Same-day treatment
When it's appropriate, you'll receive your first hands-on treatment during this visit — most patients do.
A clear plan
You leave knowing what's going on, how many visits to expect, and what to do between them. Honest timelines, no open-ended care plans.
Common questions
Back pain, answered.
Yes — major clinical guidelines recommend spinal manipulation as a first-line treatment for low back pain, before medication in many cases. I combine adjustments with soft tissue work, cupping, and movement-based rehab so relief actually lasts.
Acute episodes often improve meaningfully within 6–10 visits. Long-standing or recurring back pain usually takes 12–20 visits to change the underlying pattern. You'll get an honest, specific timeline at your first exam.
For a fresh flare-up (the first day or two), ice tends to calm irritated tissue; after that, heat usually helps guarded muscles relax and move. It varies by person — I'll give you specific guidance for your case at your visit.
Yes — the reformer builds core and hip strength without compressing the spine, which is exactly what most recovering backs need. It's the bridge I use between pain relief and lasting strength. Private reformer Pilates →
Ready when you are
Ready for a back that holds up?
Book a New Patient Exam online — same-week appointments usually available in downtown La Jolla.
Related: Sciatica · Posture & Desk Pain · Private Reformer Pilates · Treatments & Pricing