Frequently Asked Questions

A chiropractic adjustment is a precise, controlled force applied to a spinal joint that has become restricted or misaligned. When a vertebra shifts out of its normal position it can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain, stiffness, and reduced function — sometimes in areas far from the spine itself.

The adjustment restores proper joint motion, relieves nerve pressure, and resets the communication pathway between your brain and body. Most patients notice improved range of motion and reduced pain within the first few visits.

For most patients, adjustments are comfortable — and many even find them relieving. The "popping" sound you may hear is simply gas releasing from the joint, similar to cracking your knuckles. It is completely harmless.

If you are in acute pain or new to chiropractic care, Dr. Etemadi uses gentle, low-force techniques to start. He always works within your comfort level and adjusts his approach based on your feedback and condition.

This depends on what is causing your pain, how long you have had it, and your personal health goals. We recommend 4–6 weeks of care for the initial phase to address the root cause of your symptoms and restore proper spinal function.

After the initial phase, we encourage maintenance care — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on your situation — to hold the progress made in those first 4–6 weeks and prevent issues from returning. Dr. Etemadi will give you a clear care plan after your initial exam so you always know what to expect.

Chiropractic care has an excellent safety record and is one of the most researched forms of manual therapy. Serious complications are extremely rare — far less common than side effects from over-the-counter pain medications or spinal surgery.

Some patients experience mild soreness for 24–48 hours after their first few adjustments, similar to how you might feel after a new workout. Dr. Etemadi reviews your health history and imaging before treatment to ensure every technique used is appropriate for your specific situation.

No referral is needed to book an appointment at Prestige Spinal Care. Chiropractors are primary care providers for musculoskeletal conditions — you can come directly to us without seeing another doctor first.

If you have insurance, some plans require a referral for coverage purposes. We recommend checking with your insurer beforehand, and our team is happy to help you navigate that process.

Yes — and this is one of the most underappreciated benefits of chiropractic care. Many headaches, including tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches, originate from tight muscles and restricted joints in the neck and upper spine. Adjustments to the cervical spine can significantly reduce both the frequency and severity of these headaches.

Research also supports chiropractic care as a drug-free approach for migraine management, particularly when combined with postural correction and soft tissue work.

Spinal decompression (IDD Therapy) is a non-surgical traction treatment that gently stretches the spine using a computer-controlled table. By creating negative pressure — a mild vacuum effect — inside the spinal disc, it draws herniated or bulging disc material back toward the center, relieves nerve compression, and promotes the flow of oxygen and nutrients back into the disc.

Unlike older traction devices, modern decompression tables use precise, oscillating cycles that the body does not resist with muscle guarding. This makes treatment comfortable and far more effective than static traction.

Spinal decompression is particularly effective for patients with herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and chronic lower back or neck pain that has not responded to other treatments.

It is not appropriate for patients who are pregnant, have severe osteoporosis, recent spinal fractures, spinal implants, or active cancer in the spine. Dr. Etemadi performs a thorough evaluation — including X-rays when needed — to confirm you are a good fit before recommending this therapy.

Most patients describe decompression as a gentle, rhythmic stretching sensation — many actually fall asleep during sessions. The treatment is not painful. If you have significant nerve irritation, you may feel mild discomfort at first that typically improves as treatment progresses.

Each decompression session is 25 minutes on the table. When combined with a chiropractic adjustment — which is standard in our protocol — the total visit is approximately 45 minutes. You will be fully clothed and positioned on the table with a harness around your hips or torso, depending on whether we are treating your lumbar or cervical spine.

The recommended protocol at Prestige Spinal Care is typically 20 sessions over 8–12 weeks. This is based on clinical research showing that disc tissue requires consistent, progressive decompression to rehydrate and heal — similar to how physical therapy for a ligament works over a series of sessions, not just one or two.

Many patients report noticeable pain reduction within the first 6–8 sessions.

For many patients, yes. Studies have shown that a significant percentage of patients with herniated discs or degenerative disc disease who complete a full decompression protocol achieve lasting pain relief without surgery. It is consistently recommended as a first-line non-surgical intervention before considering invasive procedures.

At Prestige Spinal Care, we further enhance outcomes by pairing spinal decompression with Softwave TRT. The two therapies work together powerfully: decompression relieves mechanical pressure on the disc and nerve, while Softwave TRT targets the surrounding soft tissue — reducing inflammation, stimulating cellular repair, and accelerating the healing process that decompression initiates. The combination addresses both structural and biological aspects of disc injury, which is why our comprehensive protocol includes both.

That said, there are cases where surgery is the appropriate choice — severe spinal instability, cauda equina syndrome, or prolonged failed conservative care. Dr. Etemadi will always give you his honest assessment and refer you to a spine surgeon if your condition warrants it.

Softwave TRT (Tissue Regeneration Technology) is an FDA-cleared, next-generation form of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) that uses unfocused, low-intensity acoustic waves to trigger the body's natural healing response. Unlike traditional focused shockwave devices, Softwave uses a parallel wave pattern that treats a broader area of tissue with less discomfort.

The key mechanism is biological activation: the acoustic waves stimulate stem cell recruitment, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation at the cellular level, and accelerate tissue repair. It is not just masking pain — it is prompting the body to actually regenerate damaged tissue.

Softwave TRT is highly effective for a range of musculoskeletal conditions, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, tennis and golfer's elbow, rotator cuff injuries, knee osteoarthritis, chronic back and neck pain, hip pain, peripheral neuropathy, and soft tissue injuries that have been slow to heal with conventional treatment.

It is especially valuable for chronic conditions — cases that have failed physical therapy, cortisone injections, or other conservative care — because it addresses the underlying tissue degeneration rather than just suppressing symptoms.

During treatment, a handheld applicator is moved over the target area using a water-based gel (similar to ultrasound). Most patients feel a mild tapping or flicking sensation. On areas of significant inflammation or degeneration, there may be brief moments of sharp sensitivity — this actually signals that the device has located the problem tissue.

Sessions typically last 10–15 minutes. Many patients experience immediate post-treatment relief due to the analgesic effect of the acoustic waves, though the deeper regenerative benefits build over several weeks as tissue heals.

Most acute conditions respond well within 5–8 sessions. Chronic or long-standing injuries — particularly those involving significant tissue degeneration — may benefit from 6–12 sessions to allow progressive tissue healing between treatments.

Dr. Etemadi typically reassesses within the first two weeks of treatment to evaluate your response and adjust the protocol accordingly. Results continue to improve for 8–12 weeks after your last session as the body's regenerative process completes.

Softwave TRT is FDA-cleared and has an excellent safety profile. It is non-invasive, requires no anesthesia, and has no systemic side effects. There are no drugs involved.

Some patients experience mild redness or temporary soreness in the treated area for 24–48 hours after a session — this is a normal sign that the healing response has been activated. You can return to normal daily activities immediately. Treatment is not recommended over areas with active infection, open wounds, malignancy, or directly over implanted metal hardware.

Yes — we accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Aetna for chiropractic adjustments. Coverage varies by plan, including how many visits are covered per year and your copay or deductible. We recommend calling your insurer to confirm your chiropractic benefits before your first visit.

Our team is happy to help verify your coverage. You can text or email us your insurance card and we will check your benefits before your appointment so there are no surprises.

For self-pay patients, your first chiropractic visit is $175, which includes the full exam, X-rays taken in-house, and your first adjustment. This is an all-in price — no hidden add-ons.

We also offer payment plans and flexible scheduling for patients who need ongoing care without insurance coverage. Call our office to discuss options that work for your budget.

Spinal decompression and Softwave TRT are non-covered expenses by all insurances — these are self-pay services. Packages range from $1,000–$5,000 depending on which services are included and where you are in your care. This may mean you are just starting with Softwave TRT, or completing our comprehensive treatment protocol which includes 20 spinal decompression sessions, 10 Softwave TRT sessions, and 20 adjustments (if not using insurance for adjustments).

We offer pay-in-full, in-house financing, or CareCredit options to make care accessible. We offer our $69 Relief & Recovery Special for new patients — which covers a full consultation, X-rays at the doctor's discretion, and one session of either Softwave TRT or Spinal Decompression. This is the best way to experience the treatment before committing to a full protocol.

The $69 Relief & Recovery Special is our introductory offer for new patients interested in Softwave TRT or Spinal Decompression. It includes a full consultation with Dr. Etemadi, X-rays if clinically appropriate, and one full treatment session — all for $69.

It is designed to give you a real, hands-on experience of the therapy and let Dr. Etemadi evaluate whether a full protocol is the right fit for your condition. Spots are limited — call, text, or use the form on our website to claim your visit.