When should I NOT see a chiropractor?
Straight Answers · answered by Dr. Alan S. Bader, DC — Chiropractic Physician.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Alan S. Bader, DC — Chiropractic Physician, Nevada License B-567 · Dr. Bader · Dr. Doyle · Last reviewed: July 2026
The short answer
Go to the ER — not any chiropractor — for: loss of bladder/bowel control or saddle numbness with back pain (cauda equina), sudden worst-ever headache, chest pain or pressure, stroke signs, or major trauma. See a medical physician first for back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, cancer history, or steadily progressing weakness. We screen every new patient for exactly these — and refer out when they appear.
The full picture
This page exists because honest triage is the highest-trust thing a clinic can publish. Red flags are rare — the vast majority of back and neck pain is mechanical — but the screening for them is why examination-first care matters and why 'walk in, get cracked' models make careful doctors wince.
Beyond emergencies, some problems simply belong elsewhere: inflammatory arthritis patterns to rheumatology, true carpal-tunnel-with-wasting to hand surgery consults, fracture risk to imaging first. Part of Dr. Bader's orthopedics training was precisely this differential judgment — and part of this clinic's thirty-year reputation is physicians trusting that referrals flow both directions.
If you're unsure whether your situation is chiropractic territory: call and describe it — (775) 829-7575. Sorting that question honestly costs you nothing and is genuinely part of the job.
Your situation has its own specifics — a two-minute call gets you a straight answer for it: (775) 829-7575.
This page is education, not medical advice for your specific situation — an examination is how care decisions get made. If you may be experiencing an emergency, call 911. Full medical disclaimer.
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What patients say
Reno Patients, In Their Own Words
“First time here… Friendly and efficient receptionist, she explained everything in detail. I saw Dr. Bader. Listened to my areas of pain, explained many things and my first adjustment was great. He is also friendly, has good “bedside” manners. They are a hometown health provider.”
“I’ve been seeing Dr. Bader for the last 15 years. He is extremely knowledgeable and has a great bedside manor. The office is very well run… Most insurance is accepted and if it’s not, the cash plan is very reasonable. Walk in’s are acceptable and same day appointments are most likely.”
“Dr Bader is a Super Chiropractor! Palmer educated.”
“They actually work on fixing your issues with adjustments and therapy and get you in and out of the office in a timely manner.”
Real patient reviews from Google and Yelp, quoted word-for-word (ellipses mark trims — nothing else is changed). Individual experiences vary — care decisions always follow an examination. Read them all — unfiltered — at the sources.
In pain right now? Acute patients get priority scheduling. Call and tell us what’s going on — same-week appointments are usually available.
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