If you have lower back pain but feel like you “didn’t do anything,” you’re not alone. Many patients who visit our chiropractor in Olathe say the same thing, and the truth is that back pain often develops from subtle stressors that build up over time—not just big injuries. At Woodroof Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we help patients understand why this happens and what you can do to finally feel relief. Chiropractic care, especially when combined with safe, non-invasive treatments, can help reduce pain, restore movement, and calm irritated joints, discs, and nerves.
Back pain that “comes out of nowhere” usually develops because the spine absorbs repeated micro-stress, your discs lose hydration, or your joints become irritated and inflamed even without a single noticeable incident. These hidden forces add up, creating stiffness, sharp pain, or muscle tightness that seems to appear overnight.
Why this problem happens: The lumbar spine is constantly managing load from sitting, bending, twisting, driving, and poor posture. Over time, the joints between the vertebrae can become restricted, muscles tighten to protect the area, discs lose height or bulge, and nearby nerves become sensitive. These changes often occur slowly, which is why back pain may surprise you even when no major injury occurred.
Muscles, joints, discs, and posture all play a role. Even everyday micro-movements—like bending forward slightly at a desk, picking up a laundry basket, twisting in the car, or sitting too long—can create enough repetitive strain to trigger lower back pain. Joint irritation or facet inflammation may refer pain into the hip, buttock, or low back. Degenerated or dehydrated discs can cause dull aching or sharp pain with bending. Nerve irritation can create burning or radiating sensations down the leg. And when posture is poor, your muscles work overtime just to hold you upright, leading to chronic tightness and fatigue.
Common symptoms patients notice include: stiffness first thing in the morning; sharp pain when standing up from a chair; a “pinch” in the low back with bending forward; tightness across the beltline; pain that worsens after sitting; low back soreness after driving; radiating pain into the hip or upper glute; burning or tingling into the thigh or leg; weakness after prolonged activity; pain that improves with gentle stretching; and discomfort that worsens after long periods of inactivity. These symptoms help us identify which structures are irritated and guide your treatment plan.
Clinical patterns I see in the office include patients whose pain starts after a long workday of sitting, those who feel a sudden jolt of pain bending forward to tie a shoe, individuals who feel stiff until they move around for a few minutes, patients whose low back pain triggers headaches or mid-back tension, and people who notice relief once they start moving, stretching, or receiving chiropractic care. It’s extremely common for pain to begin during everyday activities—not from a single dramatic injury—because the spine reaches a tipping point where inflammation outweighs stability.
Chiropractic care helps by restoring normal motion to the joints in the lumbar spine, reducing muscle guarding, and improving the way the spine handles stress. Our Chiropractic Care treatments relieve pressure on irritated joints, normalize movement, and calm the nervous system. For many patients, adding Spinal Decompression is highly effective because it gently releases pressure on the discs and nerves that contribute to low back pain and sciatica. If muscle tension is a major factor, Hydromassage Therapy helps relax tight muscles and increase circulation. We also emphasize corrective movement, and our Exercise & Stretch Routine teaches you spine-safe exercises that strengthen the core and protect the lumbar joints.
Our treatment approach at Woodroof Chiropractic combines chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, hydromassage therapy, targeted strengthening, stretching routines, corrective exercise, and posture or sleep coaching to reduce pain and restore long-term spinal health. We also help you understand insurance options through our Insurance page so you know what is covered before starting care. Most patients begin noticing improvement within the first few visits.
Frequently asked questions include: Why does my back hurt more after sitting for long periods? Should I see a chiropractor for pain that started without an injury? When is back pain a sign of something more serious? How long does it take to feel better with chiropractic care? Can spinal decompression help a disc bulge even if I didn’t lift anything heavy? These questions often point to deeper issues involving joint irritation, disc pressure, muscle imbalance, or nerve sensitivity—all of which respond well to conservative chiropractic treatment.
If you’re dealing with unexplained back pain, we can help. Call our Olathe chiropractic office today at 913-735-6351 or click Schedule Your Visit to get started.
Dr. Ike Woodroof
Contact Me
