I once fell off a horse (actually, the horse fell, and I fell with him), and was in excrutiating pain. The regular doctor did a few cursory tests and said there was nothing wrong. Then I went to a chiropractor, and he showed me in my ex-rays that I had several areas in my spine that needed adjustment. I felt SOOOO much better.
I now go to a chiropractor when I feel the need for an adjustment. Sometimes a headache or back pain can be alieviated very quickly. I sometimes wait a few days before going, then immediately regret it because by the next day after the adjustment, I feel SOOO much better.
Chiropractors do wonders for back pain as well as the neck and head area. But just as there are good chiropractors, there are some "not so good" ones. I once went to a chiropractor who had me coming back really often, and putting me on machines that I didn't need (I found out later) and charging an arm and a leg. Now, my chiropractor basically told me to come iin when I feel like I need an adjustment.
Usually, when you go in for an initial treatment, they will take xrays of the spine (several views) and set up a treatment schedule, usually 10 sessions over the course of 2 or 3 weeks. ONce things are going well, you'll need to go iin less frequently. One nice thing about chiropractors, many of them offer free initial visits, including the x-rays.