Back Pain Treatment in Tyler
Drug-free back pain care in Tyler, TX — lower, upper, and mid-back. We look for the root cause and treat it with gentle adjustments and spinal decompression.
Chiropractic care for back pain
Get to the root of your back pain
Also known as: Lower Back Pain, Upper Back Pain, Mid-Back Pain, Lumbago, Dorsalgia
If back pain is keeping you from work, workouts, or a good night's sleep, you're not alone — it's one of the most common reasons people across Tyler, Chandler and East Texas see a chiropractor. Whether it's lower, upper, or mid-back pain, your chiropractor looks for what's actually driving it and builds a gentle, drug-free plan that aims at the root cause instead of masking it.
Symptoms of back pain
- ✓A dull, constant ache in the lower back
- ✓Sharp or stabbing pain when you move or lift
- ✓Stiffness after sitting or first thing in the morning
- ✓Pain that radiates into the hips, buttocks, or legs
- ✓Muscle spasms or tightness across the low back
- ✓Trouble standing up straight or bending over
Common causes
- Muscle or ligament strain from lifting or twisting
- Bulging or herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease or spinal arthritis
- Poor posture and long hours of sitting
- Sciatica or a pinched nerve
- Weak core muscles and repetitive strain
- Auto accidents and sports injuries
Our approach
How we treat back pain in Tyler and Chandler
- Step 1
Thorough exam
We review your history and perform orthopedic, neurological, and movement testing to find the true source of your pain — and recommend imaging such as X-rays only when it will change your care.
- Step 2
A clear, personalized plan
You get a plain-English explanation of what we found and a care plan built around your exam findings and your goals.
- Step 3
Gentle, drug-free treatment
Depending on your exam, care may combine gentle adjustments, spinal decompression, and soft-tissue work such as myofascial release or trigger point therapy to help ease pain and improve motion.
The basics
Understanding back pain
Your spine runs from the base of your skull to your pelvis, and back pain can show up anywhere along it. The lower back (lumbar spine) carries most of your body weight and is the most common site, but the mid-back (thoracic spine) and upper back also take a beating from posture, desk work, and old injuries. Most adults experience back pain somewhere along the spine at some point in their lives.
The good news is that the vast majority of back pain is mechanical — it comes from how the joints, discs, and muscles of your spine are moving (or not moving) — which means it often responds well to conservative, drug-free chiropractic care. The key is finding why your back hurts rather than just chasing the pain with medication.
New Patient Special
Start care for just $49
Everything your first visit needs, at one price — so you can find out what's actually wrong before committing to anything.
- Consultation
- Exam
- X-Rays
- First Adjustment
When to see a chiropractor in Tyler or Chandler
It’s tempting to wait out back pain, but getting it checked early makes it easier to find the cause and choose the right care. Consider booking an exam if you notice:
- Pain that lingers more than a few days or keeps returning
- Stiffness that limits your work, workouts, or sleep
- Pain that travels into your hip, buttock, or leg (a sign of sciatica)
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in a leg or foot
- Back pain after a car accident, fall, or sports injury
During your first visit we start with a thorough exam, then walk you through exactly what we found and what we recommend.
Lower, upper, and mid-back pain — we treat all three
“Back pain” isn’t one thing. Where it sits usually points to a different cause, and your care plan should reflect that.
Lower back pain
The most common form by far, lower back pain comes from the lumbar spine that carries most of your body weight. It’s often triggered by lifting, prolonged sitting, disc problems, or sciatica — and it often responds well to chiropractic adjustments and non-surgical spinal decompression.
Upper back pain
Pain across the upper back and between the shoulder blades is usually posture- and tension-driven — hours hunched over a screen, a heavy bag on one shoulder, or stress that settles into the muscles. Restricted joints and tight tissue here often respond well to adjustments and targeted soft-tissue work such as myofascial release, sometimes alongside neck pain care.
Mid-back pain
Mid-back (thoracic) pain often stems from rib-joint restrictions, posture, or muscle strain, and can feel like a deep ache or a catch when you breathe or twist. Care focuses on improving motion in the thoracic spine and ribs, and your doctor can talk you through the posture habits that may be driving it.
Types of back pain we treat
No two backs are the same, and “back pain” can mean very different things. Common types we see at our Tyler and Chandler offices include:
- Acute back pain — sudden pain from lifting, twisting, or a minor injury that often clears up quickly with the right care.
- Chronic back pain — pain lasting three months or longer, where finding and correcting the root cause matters most.
- Sciatica and nerve pain — pain that radiates from the low back into the leg or foot (see our dedicated sciatica page).
- Disc-related pain — from a bulging or herniated disc, which may respond to non-surgical spinal decompression.
- Posture- and work-related pain — the dull ache that builds from long hours of sitting, driving, or repetitive strain.
Your exam tells us which type you’re dealing with, so your plan is built for your back — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What to expect at your first visit
Your first appointment is all about understanding your pain before we treat it. We’ll:
- Listen to your story — when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, and how it’s affecting your day.
- Examine thoroughly — orthopedic, neurological, and movement testing to find the source, plus X-rays when your doctor decides they’re needed.
- Explain what we found — in plain English, with a care plan built around your findings and goals.
- Start care when appropriate — once your doctor confirms chiropractic care is a good fit, gentle treatment can begin.
Your doctor will explain the plan and answer your questions before any care begins.
Drug-free back pain relief — without medication or surgery
Medication can mask back pain for a few hours, and surgery is a major step that’s rarely necessary for mechanical back pain. Chiropractic care offers another path: drug-free care aimed at easing the pain and addressing what’s causing it. The goal is to help you get back to work, workouts, and family life. And if your exam ever suggests you need further imaging, medication, or a specialist, we’ll tell you honestly and refer you.
Why East Texas patients choose Hopson Chiropractic
Hopson Chiropractic is the husband-and-wife practice of Dr. William Hopson, who sees patients at our Tyler office, and Dr. Lana Hopson, who sees patients at our Chandler office. Both are certified in Spinal Correction, and the practice has cared for East Texas families since 1999. Patients from Tyler, Chandler, Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard, Flint, Brownsboro, Athens and Canton come to us for care that looks for the cause, not just the symptom. Care can combine gentle chiropractic adjustments, non-surgical spinal decompression, and soft-tissue work into one clear plan built around your goals.
New to Hopson Chiropractic? Our New Patient Special makes your first visit easy, and you can request an appointment online.
Why choose chiropractic
Chiropractic care vs. the typical back-pain routine
| Comparison factor | Chiropractic Care | Pain Meds & Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Addresses the root cause | ✓Targets spinal mechanics | ✕Often masks the symptoms |
| Drug-free & non-surgical | ✓Always | ✕Rarely |
| Risk of side effects | ✓Generally low | ✕Higher (meds, surgery) |
| Personalized to you | ✓Custom care plan | ✕Often standardized |
| Supports long-term spinal health | ✓Wellness care available | ✕Seldom addressed |
| Typical recovery | ✓Active & gradual | ✕Can be lengthy after surgery |
Treatment options
Services we use to relieve back pain
Chiropractic Care
Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments in Tyler, TX that restore motion to restricted joints and help relieve back pain, neck pain, and headaches at the source.
Learn more →Spinal Decompression
Non-surgical spinal decompression in Tyler gently stretches the spine to ease pressure from herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic neck and back pain — drug-free.
Learn more →Athlete Care
Sports injury rehab in Tyler helps athletes of every level recover from strains and overuse injuries and get back to training with a clear, staged plan.
Learn more →Acupuncture
Acupuncture in Tyler, TX with Dr. William Hopson, a Fellow in Acupuncture — fine needles at specific points to support natural pain relief, alongside chiropractic care.
Learn more →Patient reviews
What our patients say
“Healing hands is how I describe Hopson’s chiropractor, made me feel so much better. I been in pain for years”
“Dr. William Hopson is very personal and professional. The first session is educational and thorough and includes X-rays. I have seen several other chiropractors and have experienced several different approaches to trying to solve my lower back pain and occasional neck and shoulder pain. After the first session with Dr. Hopson, I could tell I would finally have relief from chronic nagging lower back pain. I was skeptical that the relief would last so I returned for maybe one or two more sessions and my lower back pain has not returned for several months now!! I still visit his office on the rare occasion just to assure that no pain ever returns. I wish I could leave this review on all the competitors in town to save others the expense and time in pain. I can't recommend Dr. Hopson's chiropractic services enough!!!”
“He is very professional and good at what he does.”
When should I see a chiropractor for back pain?
If your back pain lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or limits work, sleep, or exercise, it's worth an exam. Identifying the cause early makes it easier to choose the right care and get you moving comfortably again.
Is chiropractic treatment for back pain safe?
For most people, yes. Chiropractic adjustments are a well-studied, drug-free option for back pain, and serious side effects are rare. Your doctor reviews your history and examines you first, and only begins treatment once chiropractic care looks right for you.
How many visits will I need to feel better?
It depends on how long you've had the pain and what's causing it. After your exam, your doctor will recommend a schedule based on your findings and goals, and explain it in plain language before care begins.
Will my insurance cover back pain treatment?
Coverage for chiropractic care varies by plan. Call our office and we'll go over your options before your first visit, or see our Payment Options page for more information.
Can chiropractic help a herniated disc or sciatica?
Often, yes. Non-surgical spinal decompression and gentle adjustments may help relieve pressure on the disc and the nerve. We'll be honest about whether you're a good candidate and refer you elsewhere if you need it.
Do I need a referral or imaging before I come in?
No referral is needed to see a chiropractor in Texas, and you don't need imaging beforehand. Your doctor screens for red flags during your exam and will let you know whether X-rays or other imaging are needed.
How soon will I feel relief?
It varies from person to person, depending on what's causing your pain and how long you've had it. Your doctor will talk through what to expect after your exam and adjust your plan as you progress.
Do you treat back pain from a car accident or sports injury?
Yes. We care for auto-injury and sports-related back pain for patients from Tyler, Chandler, Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard, Flint, Brownsboro, Athens and Canton. Dr. William Hopson, at our Tyler office, has also treated professional and amateur athletes.
What causes lower back pain?
Most low back pain is mechanical — strained muscles, restricted spinal joints, a bulging or herniated disc, arthritis, poor posture, or a weak core. Your exam helps identify which of these is driving your pain so care can target it directly instead of guessing.
What causes lower back pain in women?
Women experience the same mechanical causes as anyone — disc and joint issues, posture, and core weakness — plus added strain from pregnancy, hormonal changes, and conditions like endometriosis. A thorough exam helps us tell the difference and build the right plan.
How can I relieve lower back pain at home?
Gentle movement and walking, alternating ice and heat, improving your sitting posture, and light core and hip stretches all help. If the pain lasts more than a few days or radiates into your leg, book an exam so we can look for the cause rather than just manage the pain.