Reading time: 6 Mins | Who the Blog is For: Anyone in Honolulu living with stubborn back pain that hasn’t responded to traditional care—especially those recovering from old injuries and searching for a natural, lasting solution.
How long have you been living with pain, hoping it will just go away? That’s exactly what Matt did—for five long years. He had persistent pain on one side of his back after an injury, and like so many people here on Oʻahu, he tried to push through it, hoping his body would eventually work it out on its own.
It never did.
That pain stuck around. It became part of his life. Until one day, Matt walked through our doors here at Upper Cervical Hawaii, ready for something different.
We want to share his story—because if you’re reading this and you’re in pain, there’s hope. And the results Matt experienced with Dr. Joe Breuwet and upper cervical care in Honolulu might be the turning point you’re looking for too.
“I Had Pain in My Back for Four to Five Years…”
Matt came to us after years of discomfort and frustration. He’d been dealing with pain localized to one side of his back—pain that just wouldn’t let up. When we met him, it had been nearly half a decade since his injury.
During his first appointment, we ran a detailed exam and imaging and quickly discovered something that hadn’t been addressed before:
His back muscles were overcompensating for a misalignment in his neck.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen this.
When the atlas (C1 vertebra)—the very top bone in your spine—shifts out of its normal position, the rest of the body has to compensate. This creates tension patterns throughout the muscles of the back, hips, shoulders, and even the legs. In Matt’s case, his body had spent years working against itself in an effort to stay upright and functional.
What many people don’t realize is that the force needed to misalign the atlas doesn’t have to be severe. A sports injury, a fall, a fender bender—or even sleeping wrong during a stressful week—can cause the atlas to shift. And because it’s so high in the spine, the symptoms often show up elsewhere, like the mid-back, lower back, or even as hip imbalance or sciatica.
That’s why Upper Cervical Care in Honolulu is so powerful:
We don’t just chase pain. We correct the root cause.
Gentle, Specific, and Focused on Long-Term Healing
Once Matt began Upper Cervical Care with Dr. Breuwet, he started to notice changes—fast.
After just a few visits, he shared:
“I’m no longer experiencing the pain that I was having for the last four or five years.”
Even more encouraging, he began holding his alignment longer between visits—first for days, then for a full week at a time. This is a major milestone in the healing process. When the body holds the correction, it means the nervous system is stabilizing and the muscles are no longer being forced to compensate.
The care Matt received was gentle, precise, and tailored specifically to his unique atlas misalignment. We don’t twist, pop, or crack the spine here. Upper Cervical Care uses detailed imaging and exact measurements to deliver soft, accurate corrections that allow the head to return to its natural position over the spine. When that happens, the entire body begins to rebalance.
What About You?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds like me,” you’re probably wondering the same thing Matt once did:
- Why hasn’t anything worked before?
- Is it really possible to get relief after years of pain?
- How can a neck correction fix a back problem?
We understand the skepticism. But time and again, we see patients find answers after years—sometimes decades—of not being heard, not being helped, and not knowing where else to turn.
Matt’s story is just one of many. And if you’re living with chronic back pain, unexplained body tension, or symptoms that other providers have overlooked or dismissed, we want you to know:
👉 It might not be your back. It might be your neck.
The Atlas Bone: Small Bone, Big Impact
When the atlas shifts, it causes the head to tilt ever so slightly. The body then adapts in a chain reaction—shoulders rotate, hips become uneven, and one leg often appears shorter than the other. Over time, this creates:
- Chronic muscle tightness
- Uneven wear and tear on joints
- Irritation of the nervous system
- Long-standing pain that resists traditional treatments
What makes Upper Cervical Care in Honolulu so unique is that we don’t try to force the body into alignment—we help it restore balance from the top down.
That’s what Matt experienced. And that’s what we want for you, too.
What Would Life Look Like Without That Pain?
Take a moment to picture it.
- Waking up without soreness in your back
- Being able to stand, walk, or sit without shifting around for relief
- Feeling in control of your body again—not at its mercy
That’s the future Matt is now stepping into, after years of thinking he’d “just have to live with it.”
You don’t have to settle for a life of discomfort. Not when there’s a proven, natural way to help your body heal from the inside out.
Ready to Find Out if Upper Cervical Care Can Help You?
If you’re tired of chasing relief that doesn’t last… if you’ve been told “it’s all in your head” or “you’ll just have to live with it”… or if you’re simply ready to feel like yourself again—let’s talk.
Dr. Joe Breuwet and the rest of our team at Upper Cervical Hawaii in Honolulu are here to guide you every step of the way.
📍 Located right here in Honolulu
➡️ Get in touch with us today and to book your initial consultation.
🔍 We’ll help you discover whether an atlas misalignment is at the root of your pain
Like Matt, you may be closer than you think to the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.
Let’s get you back in alignment—and back to living the life you deserve.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Breuwet, call our Honolulu office at 808-201-1324. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
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