Chiropractic is generally safe for common back and neck pain when the problem is properly screened.  If you believe your issue is in layman’s terms some thing mechanical like related to a muscle strain, pinch nerve, bone alignment and it suddenly started it is most likely a Chiropractic issue.  If you believe your back or neck pain is related to something more ominus, severe disease, cancer, tumor, etc… then your best bet is to start with your Medical Doctor.  However, your are safe either way because both the Dr. in Chiropractic and Dr. in Medicine will review your medical history and do an exam evaluating you medical and determining if its something they can treat or need to refer out to another specialist because of the patient’s symptoms and condition.  However, if you have any of the following red flags such as loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive weakness or numbness, fever with back pain, or severe trauma, because those are red flags outside routine musculoskeletal care you should seek urgent medical care at a hospital and skip the visit to the MD or the Chiropractor to be on the safe side.  Chiropractic safe care starts with knowing who should not be adjusted and who needs medical triage first.  Chiropractic begins with screening, not cracking.