Jordan Loewenstein, D.C. | La Jolla Chiropractor
Quick answer: chiropractic care is hands-on treatment of joints, muscles and nerves, mostly for back pain, neck pain, headaches and sports injuries. A first visit with me takes about 45 minutes and includes a history, an exam and, in most cases, treatment the same day. Follow-ups are 30 minutes. You do not need a referral or an X-ray to start. Below are straight answers to the questions I hear most from new patients.
I diagnose and treat problems of the musculoskeletal system: joints that have stopped moving well, muscles that are tight, weak or in spasm, and nerves that are being irritated by either. The tools are adjustments (a quick, controlled movement of a joint), soft tissue work, heat and electrical stimulation to settle muscle guarding, flexion-distraction on a specialised table for disc problems, and home exercise you do at home. I also decide when a problem is not a chiropractic problem and needs imaging or a referral to your physician or a specialist.
What I do not do is treat organ disease, cure infections, or “boost your immune system” with adjustments. There is no good evidence for any of that, and you should be wary of anyone who claims otherwise.
You fill in a short history, then we talk about what is going on: when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you have already tried, and what you want to get back to. Then I examine you: range of motion of the involved area, orthopaedic tests to identify which structures are involved, neurological checks when there is arm or leg pain, and with you face down, a look at how your pelvis is sitting and whether the legs sit level. If the picture is clear and there are no red flags, I treat you the same day. I wrote a fuller walk-through on what to expect at your first visit.
Adjustments themselves are quick and usually painless; most people describe a feeling of release. Soft tissue work on a tight, irritated muscle can be uncomfortable in the moment, in the way a deep massage is, and I adjust the pressure to what you can relax through. Mild soreness for a day or so after the first couple of visits is common, similar to the feeling after a new workout. Sharp or worsening pain after treatment is not normal and I want to hear about it.
When a joint is moved quickly to the end of its range, the pressure inside the joint capsule drops and a gas bubble forms and collapses. That is the sound. It is the same mechanism as cracking your knuckles. The pop is not bones “going back into place” and it is not required for an adjustment to work; some techniques produce no sound at all. If you are curious about cracking your own joints, I wrote about whether that is bad for you.
For low back and neck pain, spinal manipulation has a good safety record. The common side effects are temporary: soreness, stiffness or a mild headache in the first 24 to 48 hours, reported by a sizeable minority of patients after early visits and resolving on their own. Serious complications are rare. The one that gets the most attention is stroke from damage to a neck artery after cervical manipulation; the best current evidence suggests the association is largely because people with an artery dissection already in progress present with neck pain and headache and seek care, rather than the adjustment causing the dissection. Even so, I screen for it, and I do not adjust a neck when the history or exam gives me any reason not to.
Adjustments are avoided or modified in people with severe osteoporosis, recent fractures, certain inflammatory arthritides, bone infections or tumours, or signs of nerve compression that need urgent medical care. That is what the exam is for.
Usually not. Current guidelines recommend against routine imaging for back and neck pain because it rarely changes treatment and often turns up harmless findings that cause worry. I order or refer for imaging when there are red flags, significant trauma, progressive neurological signs, or when you are not improving as expected. Full detail in my guide to X-rays and MRIs for back pain.
No. Chiropractors are portal-of-entry providers in California, so you can book directly. Most PPO insurance plans also do not require a referral for chiropractic care; some HMO plans and UC SHIP do. I verify your specific benefits before your first visit. Details on my insurance page.
It depends on what is wrong, how long it has been there and what you want to get back to. A recent, simple episode of low back pain might need two to six visits. A long-standing problem with a disc, or a sports injury with a return-to-play goal, takes longer. I lay out a plan after the first visit and reassess at each stage; if you are not measurably better after four to six visits, something in the plan changes or I refer you on. I wrote an honest, longer answer on how often to see a chiropractor.
Adults of all ages, athletes, desk workers, students, pregnant patients, and children from age five. Adjustments are modified for each: gentler, lower-force techniques for pregnant patients and children, and for older adults with fragile bone.
Comfortable clothes you can move in. You will not need to undress. Avoid stiff jeans and anything with a thick waistband if your low back is the issue.
I am a solo practitioner. Every visit is with me, start to finish, so nothing gets lost between a front desk, an assistant and a doctor. The first visit is 45 minutes and follow-ups are 30.
My office is inside the Head, Neck & Spine Center at 5151 Shoreham Place in UTC San Diego, a couple of miles from UCSD. I am open weekdays and Sundays; Sundays exist because most people cannot get to a chiropractor during the work week.
I take most major insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive, so you know your cost up front. If you are paying cash, the pricing is on the site.
How long is a first chiropractic visit?
About 45 minutes: history, examination and, in most cases, treatment on the same day. Follow-up visits are 30 minutes.
Do I need a referral or X-ray to see a chiropractor?
No. You can book directly, and routine imaging is not recommended for most back and neck pain. Imaging is used when red flags, trauma or progressive nerve symptoms are present.
Is a chiropractic adjustment safe?
For back and neck pain, adjustments have a good safety record. Temporary soreness is the most common side effect; serious complications are rare. A proper history and exam identify people who should not be adjusted or need a modified approach.
What is the popping sound during an adjustment?
Gas releasing inside the joint capsule as pressure drops when the joint moves to the end of its range. It is not bones going back into place, and an adjustment can work without any sound.
Can children and pregnant women see a chiropractor?
Yes. I treat pregnant patients and children from age five, using gentler, lower-force techniques adapted to each.
Still have a question I did not answer? Book a first visit or call (858) 558-3111 and ask me directly.
Dr. Loewenstein diagnoses the actual source of your pain before treating it — soft tissue work, adjustment, and rehab in one visit. Most major insurance accepted, no packages or contracts.