Chiropractic care at Jackson Chiropractic treats back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and injuries from car accidents with spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and rehabilitation exercises, not drugs or surgery. Dr. David Severance and Dr. Moriah Severance, both chiropractors and naturopathic doctors, build a personalized plan after a thorough exam, then guide your recovery visit by visit.
If you have never seen a chiropractor, or you tried one once and never went back, the first visit is usually the part that stops people. What happens on the table. Whether it will hurt. Whether the doctor will listen before doing anything. Those questions are normal, and they are exactly what a good first exam is built to answer.
“I love it! I was pretty nervous for my first appointment and didn’t know what to expect, but I was very pleased and look forward to every appointment now. So helpful and such a relief everytime!” - Lauren H. (Jackson)
This article covers what chiropractic care actually is, the conditions we see most often, what changes after a car accident, what a first visit looks like, and the communities we serve around Jackson.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and the musculoskeletal system, and how they connect to the nervous system that runs through them. When a joint in the spine becomes restricted or misaligned, a condition chiropractors call a subluxation, it can irritate nearby nerves and contribute to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility well beyond the joint itself.[1]
Treatment starts with a spinal adjustment: a targeted, controlled movement that restores motion to a restricted joint. From there, care often adds:
- Soft tissue therapy and myofascial release for tight, inflamed muscles
- Rehabilitation exercises that rebuild strength and mobility so the problem is less likely to return
- Posture correction and ergonomic advice for the desk setup, sleep position, or daily habit that keeps causing the problem
Because Dr. David and Dr. Moriah are chiropractors and naturopathic doctors, a husband-and-wife team who built this practice in their hometown, the plan usually reaches past the adjustment table. An adjustment relieves a restricted joint, but if you sit at a desk ten hours a day, the restriction comes back. Expect specific homework alongside your adjustments: movement breaks, a couple of exercises, sometimes a nutrition conversation.
Common Conditions We Treat
Patients come to us for a wide range of pain and mobility concerns, including:
- Back pain and herniated discs
- Neck pain and whiplash
- Sciatica and pinched-nerve pain
- Auto accident injuries
- Sports injuries and joint pain
- Tension headaches and migraines
- Arthritis and chronic pain
For low back pain specifically, the evidence is strong: a 2017 systematic review in JAMA covering 26 randomized trials found that spinal manipulation improves both pain and function in acute low back pain.[2] For pain that radiates into the leg or arm, a systematic review of spinal manipulation for radiculopathy (nerve root pain, including sciatica) found it helpful for many patients as part of a broader care plan.[3] Tension headaches and migraines can respond too, with randomized trials showing fewer migraine days for some patients after a course of spinal manipulation.[4] None of this is a guarantee for every patient, which is exactly why the exam comes first.
“I’ve gone here for a few injuries and David is very knowledgeable and helpful in regaining mobility/dealing with some pain in the neck, back and knee.” - Bryan W. (Jackson)
Some patients arrive with more than one problem tangled together.
“I came to Jackson Chiropractic a couple of months ago when I started getting migraines and had terrible lower back pain. Dr Moriah was fantastic at finding out what exactly was causing the pain and my migraines.” - Jennifer K. (Jackson)
That is the point of a real exam: sorting out what is actually driving the pain instead of treating symptoms one at a time. You can read more back pain and neck pain reviews from patients who came in with a similar mix of complaints.
Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident
A car accident can leave you sore in ways that do not show up right away. Auto accident care at our office combines three things:
- Spinal adjustments to restore alignment and relieve nerve pressure
- Soft tissue therapy to reduce inflammation and muscle tightness
- Rehabilitation exercises to rebuild strength and mobility
Whiplash is the injury we see most often after a crash, and the research on conservative, nondrug care for it is encouraging: a Cochrane review of whiplash treatments found that early exercise and manual therapy helped patients recover more comfortably than doing nothing and waiting it out.[5]
“I was hit by a semi truck back in 2022 and jacked my body up , and this is not a cure all for all diseases or anything but it literally lowers my body pain by 70% each time I get cracked it is awesome!!!..” - Nick N. (Jackson)
His account is one patient’s experience, not a promise of the same result for every crash or every body. What it does show is a familiar pattern: pain from an old injury that responds to ongoing, non-invasive care rather than a single fix.
Get medical care first, before a chiropractic visit, if any of these apply after a crash: loss of consciousness, a headache that keeps getting worse, numbness or weakness spreading down an arm or leg, or chest pain. We screen for all of this at the first exam and refer out when something needs medical attention first.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit starts with a conversation, not an adjustment: your health history, where it hurts, what makes it better or worse, and any past injuries or surgeries. A physical exam follows, checking posture, range of motion, and which joints are restricted or tender. X-rays are ordered only when the exam gives a clinical reason for them, not as a default for every new patient.
We cover the full walkthrough, step by step, on our what to expect page. One honest caveat belongs here too: see a medical doctor first, or go to the emergency room, if your pain comes with numbness in the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever with back pain, or a recent significant trauma. We refer out when an exam or imaging shows something chiropractic care cannot help.
When you are ready, contact us or call (517) 581-2785. We often accommodate same-day scheduling, and most insurance plans do not require a referral. You can also read more first-visit stories from patients who started exactly where you are now.
Serving Jackson and Nearby Communities
Our office is in Jackson, Michigan, and we see patients from Spring Arbor, Michigan Center, Parma, Vandercook Lake, Napoleon, Brooklyn, Grass Lake, Chelsea, Albion, and Springport as well. Wherever you are coming from, the same exam, the same personalized plan, and the same husband-and-wife team see you through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors treat a wide range of spine and musculoskeletal conditions, including neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica, and pinched nerves. We care for patients of all ages and can also advise on posture, nutrition, exercise, and healthy daily habits to support your whole-body wellness.
How safe are chiropractic adjustments?
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest nondrug, noninvasive forms of health care available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current research shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Are x-rays required for new patients?
X-rays are not required for all new patients at our office. X-ray necessity is determined based on the thorough history, exam, and clinical judgment at the new patient visit.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
In most cases, no. You can book directly with our office without a referral, and most insurance plans do not require one. Some plan types, such as an HMO, may need a referral first. Call us and we will confirm the requirements for your specific plan.
Have another question? See the full FAQ page for more answers about insurance, training, and what to expect.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Chiropractic: In Depth. National Institutes of Health. NCCIH ↩
- Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Booth MS, et al. Association of spinal manipulative therapy with clinical benefit and harm for acute low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1451-1460. PubMed ↩
- Leininger B, Bronfort G, Evans R, Reiter T. Spinal manipulation or mobilization for radiculopathy: a systematic review. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2011;22(1):105-125. PubMed ↩
- Rist PM, Hernandez A, Bernstein C, et al. The impact of spinal manipulation on migraine pain and disability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Headache. 2019;59(4):532-542. PubMed ↩
- Verhagen AP, Scholten-Peeters GGM, van Wijngaarden S, de Bie R, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA. Conservative treatments for whiplash. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007;(2):CD003338. PubMed ↩
