Low back pain can come from a variety of causes, ranging from sudden injuries to long-term wear and tear. Common culprits include poor posture, repetitive stress, muscle imbalance, and spinal misalignment—all of which place uneven pressure on the spine’s joints and discs. Over time, this added stress can lead to problems like degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, or irritation of the nerves. Lifestyle factors such as sitting too much, lifting improperly, carrying extra weight, or even chronic stress can all make back pain worse. While painkillers may mask the discomfort, the real solution lies in addressing the root cause: how your spine and nervous system are functioning. That’s why chiropractic care focuses on restoring healthy alignment and movement so your body can heal and function as it was designed.
Schedule Your Appointment
Why wait to begin feeling relief? Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
How The Higher Health Process Works
1. Problem
The real problem is not your symptoms; it’s how those symptoms are affecting your life. Our focus is on the impact that subluxation and your symptoms are having on your daily life, what they’re preventing you from doing, and who they’re preventing you from being.
2. Goal
Our shared goal is to guide you towards optimal health and well-being, ensuring you not only get relief from immediate symptoms but also regain the ability to carry out essential tasks and eventually return to the activities you love. It’s about reclaiming your life so you can embrace your God-given potential.
3. Path
Our chiropractic care serves as a navigational tool, guiding you through your journey from where you are today – experiencing discomfort, limitations, and frustration – to where you want to go – a life free from pain, where you can engage in your daily activities and pursue your passions.
4. Plan
The plan we create together is a reflection of our dedication to your health journey. It will be straightforward and aligned with your goals, ensuring a clear and direct path to wellness. With our dedication and your commitment the potential to thrive is limitless.
How We Treat Low Back Pain in Wyoming, MI
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
When you come to our office with something like low back pain, the first step is a comprehensive consultation and exam designed to uncover the true cause of the problem. We begin with a detailed health history, followed by three neurological evaluations—surface thermography, surface electromyography, and heart rate variability testing—to measure how spinal misalignments are impacting your nervous system. We also take digital X-rays when needed to see exactly how long the problem has been there and how much correction may be required. This thorough process isn’t just about identifying symptoms—it’s about getting to the root cause, so we can determine if chiropractic care is the right fit for you and if we’re the right office to help.
When someone comes in with low back pain, our job is to investigate and discover. First, we sit down for a thorough health history—because your story matters. Then we run three neurological evaluations: thermography, EMG, and heart rate variability. Think of it like looking under the hood of your car before deciding what’s wrong—we’re measuring how stress is affecting your spine and nervous system. Finally, if needed, we’ll take digital X-rays to see exactly how long the problem has been building and how much work it may take to correct it. This approach goes way beyond covering up symptoms—it helps us find the root cause, so you and your family can unlock your God-given potential for health and healing.”
Digital X-rays
X-rays play a vital role in our in-depth assessment process, especially when evaluating issues such as low back pain. While our neurological scans show how stress and spinal misalignments are affecting your nervous system, digital X-rays reveal the exact structure of your spine. They reveal the degree of misalignment, how long it has likely been there, and any signs of degeneration or abnormal wear. This clarity is essential for creating a safe and effective care plan tailored to your needs. And what about radiation exposure? A full set of spinal X-rays has roughly the same radiation as eating 20–40 bananas—so it’s extremely safe compared to everyday background exposure. By combining state-of-the-art scans with precise imaging, we’re able to move past guesswork and deliver care that addresses the true root cause of your pain.
Our neurological scans show us how stress is impacting your spine and nervous system. But X-rays? They give us the blueprint. They reveal how severe the misalignments are, how long they’ve likely been present, and whether there are any deeper issues, such as degeneration or abnormal wear. Without them, we’d just be guessing—and your health deserves better than guesswork. And for those worried about safety, here’s some perspective: a full set of spinal X-rays is about the same radiation exposure as eating 20–40 bananas. In other words, minimal. With X-rays, we can design a care plan that’s precise, safe, and tailored—so you can get back to living without low back pain holding you back.”
Common Causes Of Low Back Pain in Wyoming, MI
Degenerative Disc Disease
While many people think degenerative disc disease (DDD) is just a part of “getting older,” age isn’t the true culprit. The bigger issue is often poor posture, repetitive stress, and spinal misalignment, which place uneven pressure on the discs, leading them to wear down faster than they should. It’s like driving a car with one wheel out of alignment: the tire doesn’t wear evenly, and over time it breaks down prematurely. Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper spinal alignment and biomechanics so the discs aren’t under constant, uneven stress.
By improving posture, reducing nerve interference, and optimizing spinal motion, we help slow degeneration and support the body’s ability to function and heal as God designed. Your spine works a lot like a car. If one wheel is out of alignment, that tire wears down faster and unevenly. The same thing happens in your back: poor posture, repetitive stress, and spinal misalignment put uneven pressure on your discs. Over time, that creates degeneration—what’s often called DDD.”
By restoring alignment, improving posture, and improving spine movement, we take the extra stress off the discs. That not only helps with pain and stiffness—it also supports long-term spinal health so you can stay active and keep doing the things you love.”
Degeneration doesn’t have to be a life sentence. When we correct the cause, your body can function the way God designed it to.”
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
As chiropractors, we often see patients dealing with sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, a common source of lower back pain. The SI joint connects the sacrum, which is the base of your spine, to the iliac bones of your pelvis. It plays a crucial role in stabilizing your body and transferring weight between your upper body and legs during everyday movements like walking, standing, or lifting. Even though this joint has limited mobility, any irritation or imbalance can lead to significant discomfort.
When the SI joint becomes inflamed or moves improperly, it can cause pain in the lower back and hips, and even radiate into the legs. This is often due to factors like injury, pregnancy, repetitive stress, or muscular imbalances. In our office, we address SI joint pain through gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore proper alignment and motion, along with personalized stretches and strengthening exercises to support the surrounding muscles. In many cases, this conservative approach provides effective, lasting relief without the need for medication or invasive procedures.
You might notice signs like uneven shoulders or hips, frequent headaches, back or neck pain, or limited range of motion. Chiropractic care can help by realigning the spine through targeted adjustments, which may relieve pain, improve posture, and restore proper movement.
Muscle Strain
A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when muscle fibers are stretched beyond their normal limits, resulting in an injury ranging from a stretch to a partial or complete tear of the muscle or its attached tendon.
Strains are often caused by sudden movements, overworking the muscle, or failing to warm up properly before activity. Fatigued muscles from overuse are more susceptible to strains.
If you only have a minor (grade I) muscle strain, it should heal within a few weeks. Moderate (grade II) muscle strains may take several weeks to months to heal completely. A severe (grade III) muscle strain can take four to six months to heal after surgery. You may need to immobilize your muscle with a cast for up to six weeks before starting your rehabilitation program. Most people recover completely from a muscle strain, even a severe one. But how you treat your muscle during recovery can affect how well it heals.
In some cases, the muscle might retain scar tissue, which is stiffer and more brittle than healthy muscle. This makes it easier to tear the muscle again. You should be more mindful of how you use your muscles going forward.
Pain in the neck, mid back, low back, or pelvis may indicate a spinal subluxation. It is important to be checked regularly by a chiropractor to maintain healthy spinal muscles.
Herniated Lumbar Discs
Compared to a disc bulge, where the outer annular fibers of the disc are still intact, in a herniated disc, the outer annular fibers are ruptured or broken, allowing the gelatinous material called pulposa on the inside to leak out of the disc.
Most disc bulges do not cause any pain. In fact, not all disc herniations will cause pain. It depends on where on the disc the herniation occurs. If a herniation occurs near a peripheral nerve, it can compress and interfere with nerve transmission, causing localized symptoms at the herniation site, as well as numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the associated muscles and dysfunction in associated organs.
Subluxation
A subluxation is a partial dislocation or misalignment of a joint, most commonly a vertebra in the spine, where bones are not in their proper position but not fully separated like in a dislocation. This abnormal positioning can put pressure on nerves and surrounding tissues, potentially leading to symptoms like pain, numbness, and limited mobility.
Check Out Our Locations Near You
1027 Gezon Parkway SW, Wyoming, MI 49509
180 Baldwin St #101, Jenison, MI 49428
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes lower back pain?
Low back pain can come from a variety of causes, ranging from sudden injuries to long-term wear and tear. Over time, this added stress can lead to problems like degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, or irritation of the nerves. Lifestyle factors such as sitting too much, lifting improperly, carrying extra weight, or even chronic stress can all make back pain worse.
What actually helps lower back pain?
That’s where chiropractic care comes in. By correcting alignment, improving posture, and restoring healthy movement, we take stress off the spine so it can function—and feel—the way God designed it to.”
Why won’t my lower back pain go away?
If your low back pain just won’t quit, it’s usually because the root cause hasn’t been corrected. Painkillers, anti-inflammatories, or temporary stretches may mask discomfort, but they don’t fix the underlying issues that put uneven stress on your spine. Common contributors include poor posture, repetitive strain, muscle imbalances, and spinal misalignments—all of which prevent the spine from functioning properly and can keep pain cycling back. Chiropractic care focuses on finding and addressing these root causes, restoring proper alignment, improving movement, and helping your nervous system communicate effectively so your back can heal and function the way God intended.
How do you fix lower back pain?
Chiropractic care looks beyond the pain? We assess the spine, correct misalignments, and help restore proper function so your nervous system can communicate effectively, giving your back the best chance to heal and stay healthy for the long term.”
Here’s the reality: most treatments only cover up the symptoms. Pain relievers, stretching, or short-term fixes might make you feel better temporarily—but if the root cause isn’t corrected, the pain keeps returning. Often, the problem is poor posture, repetitive stress, or spinal misalignment. Think of it like a car with a misaligned wheel: you can patch the tire, but if the alignment isn’t fixed, it’ll wear unevenly again.
Consider seeing a chiropractor whenever your body signals that something is off, or when you want to maintain optimal health. Common reasons include persistent low back pain, neck stiffness, headaches, poor posture, or limited mobility. Even if you don’t have pain, regular chiropractic care can help prevent problems, support proper spinal alignment, and reduce the impact of repetitive stress from work, sports, or daily activities. Families in Wyoming, Michigan, choose chiropractic care not just for relief, but to improve overall wellness, energy, and function. By addressing issues early, you give your spine and nervous system the best chance to function as God designed them—helping you stay active, healthy, and thriving.
You don’t have to wait until your back or neck is screaming. Common reasons to come in include low back pain, neck stiffness, headaches, or poor posture. Even if you feel fine, regular checkups help prevent problems and keep your spine aligned. Think of it like maintaining a car—catching small alignment issues early prevents bigger problems later.
Who benefits from chiropractic care?
Everyone! From busy parents carrying kids to athletes, office workers, and seniors, chiropractic care helps reduce stress on the spine, restore function, and improve overall wellness. Here in Wyoming, Michigan, we focus on helping families thrive, not just survive.
Why is low back pain so common?
Something that almost everyone experiences at some point in their lives: low back pain, or LBP. It’s incredibly common. In fact, studies show that up to 80% of people will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. It’s one of the top reasons people miss work or visit a doctor. So if you’ve had it before or are dealing with it now, you’re definitely not alone.
Our lower back is involved in everything we do, including sitting, standing, lifting, twisting, and walking. And modern life doesn’t help much. A lot of us sit for hours every day, whether it’s at school, work, or at home. Poor posture, lack of movement, and even stress can all contribute. Add in the fact that people often don’t use proper body mechanics when lifting or exercising, and it’s no surprise that our backs take a beating.
When it comes to the anatomy of the lower back, a lot is going on. You’ve got muscles that support and move the spine, ligaments that hold everything in place, joints that allow movement, and discs that act as shock absorbers between the bones. Even a single component strained, inflamed, or injured can lead to pain. For example, a slipped disc can press on a nerve, or tight muscles can pull your spine out of alignment. Everything is connected, so when one part is off, others often follow.
That’s why it’s so important to treat low back pain early. If you ignore it, what starts as a minor issue can turn into a chronic problem. Your body might start compensating in unhealthy ways. You might shift your posture to avoid pain, which can then strain your hips or knees. Before you know it, you’re dealing with pain in multiple areas, and recovery becomes more difficult.
Untreated low back pain doesn’t just stay in the back. It can affect your entire body and even your mental health. Chronic pain can lead to fatigue, poor sleep, reduced mobility, and even anxiety or depression. It can keep you from doing the things you love. That’s why recognizing it early, taking steps to strengthen your core, stretching regularly, and seeking help when needed is so important. Your back supports you every day, so make sure you support it, too.
How should you sleep with lower back pain?
To sleep with lower back pain, try lying on your side with a pillow between your knees or on your back with a pillow under your knees. These positions help keep your spine aligned and reduce pressure on your lower back.
Schedule Your Appointment
Why wait to begin feeling relief? Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
