Chronic and Degenerative Conditions in Grand Rapids, Michigan

A chronic condition is a health problem that lasts for 6 months or longer. Many people in Grand Rapids live active, full lives with chronic illnesses. However, some chronic or degenerative conditions can significantly affect mobility, independence, and quality of life.

In West Michigan—where cold, icy winters, lake-effect snow, and seasonal changes are common—limited mobility can make daily activities even more challenging. Understanding your condition and knowing where to get help in Grand Rapids, MI is essential.

Not All Chronic Conditions Lead to Disability

Many chronic conditions can be well-managed with medication, lifestyle changes, and regular care from your Grand Rapids healthcare team. However, some chronic and degenerative conditions may:

  • Limit your ability to walk or get around safely
  • Make it harder to take care of yourself at home
  • Increase your risk of falls, especially in winter
  • Require long-term support or disability services

Common chronic and degenerative conditions that can lead to disability include:

  • Arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis)
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders
  • Motor neurone disease (MND)
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Friedreich ataxia
  • Kennedy’s disease
  • Marfan syndrome
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Polio and post-polio syndrome

If you or someone you care for in Grand Rapids has a chronic or degenerative condition, you may need to plan ahead and make changes to make daily life safer and easier.

Planning for Life With a Chronic or Degenerative Condition

Depending on your diagnosis and how quickly it progresses, you may need to consider:

  • Home modifications

    • Installing grab bars, ramps, or stair lifts
    • Improving lighting for safety during dark winter months
    • Removing loose rugs to reduce fall risk on slippery floors

  • Mobility and communication aids

    • Walkers, canes, wheelchairs or scooters
    • Speech-generating devices or communication aids

  • Support network

    • Moving closer to family or trusted caregivers
    • Connecting with local support groups in Grand Rapids
    • Accessing home care or respite services

  • Seasonal planning in Michigan

    • Planning safe transportation in snow and ice
    • Arranging grocery or medication delivery in bad weather
    • Using indoor exercise options during harsh winters

How Much Care You Need Depends on Your Condition

The type and severity of your condition will determine the level of care you need.

  • Some conditions can be managed with:

    • Regular visits to your primary care provider in Grand Rapids
    • Outpatient therapy at local clinics (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
    • Self-management strategies, exercise, and medication

  • Other, more serious degenerative conditions may eventually require:

    • High-level care at home
    • Long-term care or assisted living
    • Palliative care and specialist support

Chronic Disease Management Plans in Grand Rapids

Ask your Grand Rapids primary care doctor about setting up a chronic disease management plan. This can help coordinate your care with a multidisciplinary team, which may include:

  • Physiotherapist (physical therapist)
  • Occupational therapist
  • Speech therapist or speech-language pathologist
  • Neurologist, rheumatologist, or cardiologist
  • Social worker or case manager

Local health systems such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health offer specialty clinics and coordinated care for many chronic and degenerative conditions.

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions

There are more than 100 different arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions that affect the muscles, bones, and joints. These are common across Michigan’s aging population and can be worsened by cold, damp weather.

Managing Arthritis in Grand Rapids

Management techniques can include:

  • Medical treatment and prescribed medications
  • Physiotherapy / physical therapy
  • Regular, low-impact exercise (indoor walking tracks, aquatic therapy at local fitness centers or hospital programs)
  • Weight management and healthy eating
  • Self-management programs and arthritis education classes

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which inflammation (pain, heat, and swelling) affects the joints, particularly:

  • Hands
  • Feet
  • Knees

It can also affect other organs. Common features include:

  • Joint stiffness, especially in the morning
  • Swollen, painful joints
  • Fatigue and reduced mobility

There is no cure, but there are effective ways to manage rheumatoid arthritis, including:

  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
  • Biologic therapies
  • Regular follow-up with a rheumatologist in Grand Rapids
  • Physical therapy and joint-protection strategies

Osteoarthritis: A Common Cause of Joint Pain

Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints. The two bones of a joint are normally protected by smooth, cushioning material called cartilage. In osteoarthritis:

  • Cartilage breaks down
  • Bones may rub against each other
  • Pain, stiffness, and swelling occur in the joint

Osteoarthritis Is One of the Most Common Forms of Arthritis

It is especially common in:

  • Knees and hips
  • Hands
  • Spine

Cold Michigan winters can make joint stiffness feel worse, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods. Management may include:

  • Pain relief medications
  • Physical therapy
  • Weight management
  • Joint injections
  • In some cases, joint replacement surgery at local Grand Rapids hospitals

Neurological and Neuromuscular Conditions

Several degenerative conditions affect the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) and muscles, often leading to problems with balance, coordination, strength, and speech.

Friedreich Ataxia

Friedreich ataxia is a rare inherited disease of the nervous system characterized by:

  • Gradual loss of balance and coordination
  • Increasing difficulty walking (unsteady gait)
  • Slurred speech, which may appear like intoxication to others

There is no cure, but some symptoms can be managed with:

  • Medication
  • Physical therapy and occupational therapy
  • Mobility aids and home modifications

Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease is a neurological condition caused by an altered gene. The death of brain cells in certain areas leads to a gradual loss of:

  • Cognitive (thinking) function
  • Physical control
  • Emotional regulation

Symptoms often appear in a person’s 30s or 40s and may include:

  • Jerky movements of the arms and legs (called “chorea”)
  • Difficulties with speech and swallowing
  • Problems with concentration and memory
  • Mood and behavioral changes

While there is no cure, neurologists in Grand Rapids can help manage symptoms with medication, therapy, and supportive care.

Kennedy’s Disease

Kennedy’s disease, also known as X-linked spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), is a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder that causes:

  • Progressive weakening and wasting of muscles
  • Particularly affecting the arms and legs

The Disorder Only Affects Men

There is no cure yet, and treatment focuses on:

  • Managing symptoms
  • Supporting mobility
  • Preventing complications through rehabilitation and regular follow-up

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome is caused by a faulty gene that affects connective tissue. It can impact:

  • Skeletal system (bones, joints, height)
  • Cardiovascular system (heart valves and aorta)
  • Eyes (lens dislocation, vision problems)
  • Lungs (pulmonary issues)
  • Nervous system

The most serious problems involve the heart valves and aorta, which can be life-threatening if not monitored. There is no cure, but complications can be managed through:

  • Regular cardiology evaluations
  • Medications to reduce strain on the heart
  • Preventive surgery when needed

Specialist care is available through cardiology and genetics clinics in Grand Rapids and larger regional centers in Michigan.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Symptoms Are Varied and Unpredictable

They may include:

  • Numbness or tingling
  • Weakness in limbs
  • Balance and coordination problems
  • Vision changes
  • Fatigue
  • Bladder or bowel issues

The cause of MS is unknown, and there is no cure, but treatments are available to:

  • Ease symptoms
  • Slow the course of the disease
  • Reduce the frequency of relapses

Grand Rapids neurologists and MS clinics can provide disease-modifying therapies, rehabilitation, and support services.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND)

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing neurological disease. Motor neurones are nerve cells that control:

  • Voluntary muscles of the trunk and limbs
  • Speech and swallowing
  • Breathing

Damage to These Nerves Causes Muscle Weakness and Wasting

Over time, people with MND may:

  • Become increasingly disabled
  • Lose the ability to speak clearly
  • Have difficulty swallowing
  • Eventually die from respiratory (breathing) failure

Care for MND in Grand Rapids often involves:

  • Neurologists
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Speech therapists
  • Palliative care teams

Muscular Dystrophy and Other Neuromuscular Disorders

Muscular dystrophy is the name given to a group of inherited muscle diseases that cause:

  • Progressive degeneration of muscle tissue
  • Increasing muscle weakness

Muscular Dystrophy Can Occur at Any Age

People affected by neuromuscular disorders have different levels of:

  • Independence
  • Mobility
  • Need for caregivers or home support

There are approximately 60 different neuromuscular disorders, each with a separate cause and pattern of progression. Local rehabilitation centers and hospital-based clinics in Grand Rapids can assist with:

  • Bracing and mobility aids
  • Respiratory support when needed
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Coordination with school or workplace accommodations

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness. Symptoms are due to the immune system interfering with the transmission of messages from nerves to muscles.

Common symptoms include:

  • Drooping eyelids
  • Double vision
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Weakness in arms or legs that worsens with activity

There Is No Cure, but Treatment Is Usually Successful

Treatment in Grand Rapids may include:

  • Medications that improve nerve-muscle communication
  • Immunosuppressive drugs
  • In some cases, surgery (thymectomy)
  • Regular follow-up with a neurologist

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease affects about 1 in 100 people over the age of 60. With an aging population in West Michigan, Parkinson’s is an important local health concern.

Common symptoms include:

  • Tremor (shaking), often in the hands
  • Rigidity (stiff muscles)
  • Slow movements (bradykinesia)
  • Lethargy and fatigue
  • Masked facial expression
  • Sleep disturbances

Although the cause is unknown, treatments and therapies include:

  • Medications to improve movement and reduce tremor
  • Surgical options (such as deep brain stimulation) for some patients
  • Multidisciplinary therapy, including:
    • Exercise and physical therapy
    • Occupational therapy
    • Speech therapy

Grand Rapids offers access to neurologists, Parkinson’s specialty programs, and community exercise classes tailored for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome

Poliomyelitis (polio) is caused by a virus that affects the digestive system and, in some cases, the nervous system.

Symptoms range from:

  • Mild, flu-like illness
  • To life-threatening paralysis and possibly death

Thanks to vaccination, polio is now very rare in the United States, including Michigan. However, post-polio syndrome can occur years after an initial polio infection and may cause:

  • New or worsening muscle weakness
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Fatigue

If you are not immunized, you could contract polio if your food, water, or hands are contaminated with the feces of an infected person. The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health provide information on immunizations and vaccine clinics.

Local Support and Disability Services in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are living with a chronic or degenerative condition in Grand Rapids, you do not have to manage it alone. Local resources can help with diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and disability support.

Where to Get Help

  • Your GP / Primary Care Doctor

    • First point of contact for symptoms, referrals, and chronic disease management plans.

  • Major Grand Rapids Health Systems

    • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – neurology, rheumatology, cardiology, rehabilitation, MS and movement disorder clinics
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids – chronic disease management, rehabilitation, specialty care
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health – neurology, orthopedics, cardiology, rehab services
    • Mercy Health – primary and specialty care, therapy services

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Immunizations (including polio vaccine)
    • Public health programs and chronic disease prevention resources

  • Grand Rapids Public Health and Community Health Centers

    • Community-based primary care and support services
    • Health education and chronic disease management programs

  • Local Rehabilitation and Therapy Services

    • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy through hospital systems and independent clinics

  • Disability and Support Services

    • Michigan-based disability service providers and advocacy organizations
    • Home health agencies and palliative care services
    • Support groups for conditions such as Parkinson’s, MS, arthritis, and neuromuscular disorders

Key Points About Chronic and Degenerative Conditions in Grand Rapids

  • Common chronic and degenerative conditions that can lead to disability include arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, and others.
  • These conditions can cause limited mobility or motor control, affecting daily activities—especially in Michigan’s cold and icy winters.
  • Chronic disease management plans and multidisciplinary care (doctors, therapists, specialists) are essential for long-term management.
  • Joint stiffness, particularly in the morning, is common in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
  • Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis and is frequently seen in older adults in West Michigan.
  • Grand Rapids residents have access to high-quality care through local hospitals, clinics, and public health resources, as well as community-based disability and support services.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and suspect you may have a chronic or degenerative condition, or if your current symptoms are changing, contact your primary care provider or a local specialist clinic for assessment and support. Early diagnosis and coordinated care can help you maintain independence and quality of life.