Back Pain Treatment in Los Gatos, CA
Back pain is the main reason so many people find their way to On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic in Los Gatos, CA. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC has been practicing chiropractic for decades across multiple countries and now focuses that experience on helping people who feel stuck with chronic back issues. Instead of masking pain with pills, the goal here is to correct the way your spine moves so your nervous system can actually work better, not just quieter.
Back pain can hit after one awkward lift, a long road trip, or years of sitting at a laptop. Most of the time that “one bad move” is just the final straw on a spine that has been under stress for a while. At On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic, Dr. Adam looks at the physics of your spine and how that is affecting your discs, joints, and nerves, rather than just chasing the sore spot. Care is precise, hands-on, and as gentle as your situation allows, using chiropractic adjustments and, when needed, spinal decompression to restore motion and balance as naturally as possible.
The first step is simple: Call (408) 354-8044 to schedule your consultation.
Understanding Back Pain
Back pain is super common, but it is not random. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC explains that most spinal pain comes from pressure on nerves caused by misalignments, disc wear, or old injuries that have changed the way your spine carries weight. Over time, those changes in “spinal physics” shift more load into a few stressed joints and discs, which eventually start to break down.
It can feel like everything started the day you bent to pick up a box or woke up “crooked,” but that event is usually just the trigger. The underlying problem has often been building for months or years.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Common sources of lower back pain include:
- Muscle strains and sprains from lifting, twisting, or sudden movements, especially when the spine is already stiff.
- Disc irritation or herniation, where the disc between the vertebrae is under too much pressure and starts to bulge, thin, or tear.
- Joint restriction or spinal misalignment, sometimes called subluxation, which can “jam up” motion and irritate nerves.
- Poor posture and prolonged sitting, especially for office workers who live at their desk and deal with “text neck” and slumped shoulders.
- Old injuries or accidents that never fully healed, including sports impacts or falls.
- Age-related changes that are really “wear and tear from bad mechanics” more than just getting older. As Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC tells patients, it is not age that causes decay, it is improper physics and pressure over time.
All of these can pile up until the discs and joints start to irritate nearby nerves, and that is when pain, stiffness, or sciatica often show up.
Symptoms of Lower Back Pain
Lower back issues can show up as:
- Dull, constant ache in the low back
- Sharp or catching pain with certain movements
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting
- Pain shooting into the hip, buttock, or leg (sciatica)
- Numbness or tingling in the legs or feet
- Muscle tightness or spasms around the spine
- Trouble standing fully upright or feeling “crooked”
- Back pain that makes it hard to sleep or stay asleep
- Pain that gets worse with bending, lifting, or twisting
Feeling like your back is weak or “about to go out”
Chiropractic Assessment for Back Issues
When you visit On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic, the process is thorough but relaxed. From day one, the team aims to make you feel seen, not rushed. New patients are greeted by name and brought into a private consultation room where Dr. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC listens to your story, health history, and how the pain is affecting your work, sleep, and daily life.
Next comes a focused physical exam. This can include:
- Posture analysis
- Range of motion testing
- Palpation, where the spine and surrounding muscles are felt by hand
- Leg length checks and balance on bilateral scales
- Orthopedic and neurological tests when needed
In most cases, Dr. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC takes full‑spine digital X‑rays to see the structure of your spine from the front and side. This helps reveal loss of normal curves, areas of disc thinning, misalignments, and how the “physics” of your spine are distributing force. If you have had an MRI already, he will review those findings as well.
After reviewing everything, Dr. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC explains what is most likely causing your pain, how long it has probably been building, and which options make the most sense. You leave knowing what is going on, not guessing.
Chiropractic Approaches for Back Pain
Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC describes himself as a “pretty straight chiropractor” – the focus is on adjusting the spine and correcting its mechanics, with spinal decompression and simple home tools as needed.
Your care plan is built around what your X‑rays and exam show, not a one‑size‑fits‑all script. Many people start with a corrective care plan over two or three months, with progress checks every 12 visits and follow‑up X‑rays to track structural change.
Chiropractic treatments for lower back pain at On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic commonly include:
Spinal Manipulation
Chiropractic adjustments are precise, hands‑on corrections that restore normal motion to stuck joints and relieve pressure on irritated nerves. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC uses full‑spine adjustments, drop‑table techniques, seated cervical work, and upper‑cervical specific methods, choosing what fits your body and comfort level.
He describes a good adjustment as a biomechanically correct transfer of energy that your body’s own intelligence then uses to heal and reorganize. The goal is not just to make the back “crack,” but to normalize the way your spine moves so the brain can communicate clearly with the rest of your body.
Back Exercises
Once your spine is moving better, simple exercises help you hold the changes. Dr. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC and the team may show you:
- Gentle stretches to open the hips and low back
- Basic core activation to support the spine
- Tips on safe bending and lifting for real life, not just the gym
For many patients, this also includes tools like a posture device for the neck curve and specific “micro‑breaks” at work to avoid sliding back into the same stressed positions.
Home Remedies to Manage Back Pain
Alongside in‑office care, there are practical things you can do at home to calm your back:
- Alternate short walks with brief periods of rest instead of long couch sessions
- Use ice for new flare‑ups and light heat later for chronic stiffness
- Avoid marathon sitting – change positions, stand up, and stretch regularly
- Set up your desk with better ergonomics if you work at a computer all day
- Stay hydrated and keep your core gently engaged when you lift or twist
These home strategies can make a big difference, but they are meant to support, not replace, a proper evaluation and corrective care plan.
Manual Therapy for Mobilization
Most of the “manual therapy” in this clinic is still chiropractic – very specific, directed work on the joints. Depending on your case, Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC may use:
- Drop‑table adjustments to gently shift stubborn segments
- Upper‑cervical specific work to ease tension at the top of the spine
- An adjusting instrument (similar to an activator) for very low‑force corrections when a softer touch is needed
These approaches are all about mobilizing the right areas in the right way, so the muscles do not have to brace and guard all the time.
Back Pain Recovery Timeline
Real talk: everyone heals on their own timeline. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC builds that into the plan from day one.
Many people notice some changes – less stiffness, easier movement, or fewer sharp twinges – within the first few weeks, especially when they follow recommendations and keep a consistent schedule. With spinal decompression, some patients feel significant relief within the first couple of weeks.
A typical corrective care plan might look like:
- About three months of chiropractic care, often three visits per week, with progress exams every 12 visits, plus follow‑up X‑rays at the end to measure structural improvement, or
- A two‑month combination plan that includes both adjustments and decompression sessions for disc or sciatica problems.
If the problem has been building for years, deeper correction and stability usually take longer and may roll into a wellness or maintenance phase. Age, lifestyle, work demands, and how well you stick to the plan all matter. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC is upfront about what to expect so there are no fake promises or quick‑fix hype.
Equipment Used for Back Pain Treatment
At On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic, the tech is there to make care more precise and more comfortable, not more complicated. Common tools include:
- Modern chiropractic adjusting tables, some with drop sections that allow gentle, targeted corrections without a lot of force.
- Options for seated or upper‑cervical specific adjusting when the neck or upper back needs extra focus.
- A handheld adjusting instrument that can deliver very low‑force adjustments for people who prefer or require an extra‑gentle approach.
- A computerized spinal decompression table that cycles between gentle pulling and relaxation, creating a pumping effect in the discs to help reduce pressure on irritated nerves. Sessions are typically around 20 minutes.
- Full‑spine digital X‑ray, which lets Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC see your spine from top to bottom, check disc spaces, and measure changes after care.
- Simple supportive tools, such as a posture device for the neck curve, that you may use at home as part of your plan.
Before anything is used, Dr. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC explains what it is, why he is choosing it, and how it fits into your overall goals.
Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Back Pain
Ignoring back pain does not usually mean it is “gone.” It more often means your body is quietly compensating until it cannot anymore. When the physics of the spine stay off for a long time, extra pressure on certain joints and discs can lead to:
- Ongoing disc thinning and degeneration
- Bone spurs and arthritis as the body tries to stabilize overloaded areas
- More frequent or intense flare‑ups of pain and stiffness
- Pain traveling into the hips, buttocks, or legs (like sciatica)
- Chronic nerve irritation, which can eventually affect organ function and overall health
Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC often compares it to a cavity – if you ignore a small one, it does not heal itself, it just gets bigger. Spinal misalignment and nerve pressure work the same way. Early, consistent care usually makes it easier to correct problems and protect long‑term mobility.
Case Studies
A woman in her early 60s came in barely able to stand upright. Her low back pain was a 9–10 out of 10, and she could not sit, sleep, or walk without crying from the intensity. Full‑spine X‑rays showed severe degeneration in her neck and low back, with all of the lumbar discs compressed and almost no natural curve left in her lower spine.
Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC designed an intensive plan of chiropractic adjustments and spinal decompression. At first she could only tolerate a few minutes at a time on the decompression table, so sessions were broken into short intervals and, in some weeks, doubled up. She stayed consistent, trusted the process, and followed home advice like gentle walking, using ice during flare‑ups, and easing back into yoga. Over about four and a half months, she went from barely functioning to hiking, practicing yoga, and living pain‑free, with a clear understanding that ongoing maintenance care helps her stay that way.
Book An Appointment
FAQs - Back Pain Treatment
How soon can I expect relief?
Everyone is different, but many patients feel some improvement within the first few visits, especially in terms of stiffness and basic mobility. Deeper structural change and long‑term stability usually take longer, often a couple of months or more, depending on how long the problem has been there and how consistently you follow your care plan.
Is chiropractic care safe?
Chiropractic care is generally very safe when delivered by a trained, licensed chiropractor. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC has provided hundreds of thousands of adjustments over more than 25 years, with extremely few complications, and screens for things like osteoporosis or prior surgeries before choosing techniques. Your comfort and safety are always the priority.
Do I need X‑rays for back pain?
In this clinic, most new patients receive full‑spine digital X‑rays. They allow Dr. Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC to see loss of curves, disc space changes, and misalignments that may not show up in a basic exam. Radiation is kept as low as reasonably possible, and if you already have recent imaging, he can often use that instead of repeating studies.
What is spinal decompression and who is it for?
Spinal decompression is a gentle, computer‑controlled traction that alternates between pulling and relaxing. This creates a pumping effect that can help rehydrate discs and reduce pressure on irritated nerves. It is often recommended for disc problems, sciatica, and more advanced degeneration, and is usually combined with chiropractic adjustments for best results.
Are there any home remedies to manage back pain?
Yes. Short, frequent walks, avoiding long stretches of sitting, using ice for sharp flare‑ups and light heat later for stiffness, and improving your workstation setup can all help. Gentle stretching and basic core engagement are useful too, as long as they do not increase your pain. These strategies support your care but are not a substitute for a proper exam and tailored plan.
