You’ve tried the heating pad. You’ve taken the ibuprofen. You’ve stretched every morning for two weeks straight. And for a while, the back pain gets better — until it doesn’t.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor, miss work, and cancel plans. And for millions of people, it’s not a one-time event. It keeps coming back.
The question is: why?
At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, we see this pattern every single day. And the answer — once you understand it — changes everything about how you approach your spine health.
The Problem Isn’t the Pain. It’s What’s Causing the Pain.
When your back hurts, the pain is a signal. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Most people treat the signal — they take something to dull it, rest until it fades, or stretch until it loosens up. And the signal goes quiet.
But here’s the thing: the signal went quiet. The underlying cause didn’t go away.
The most common underlying cause of recurring back pain is spinal misalignment — when the vertebrae in your spine are not sitting in their proper position. This creates pressure on nerves, causes surrounding muscles to work overtime to compensate, and leads to inflammation that builds up over time.
When that misalignment isn’t corrected, the pain will return. Every time.
Why Stretching and Rest Only Go So Far
Stretching can relieve muscle tension. Rest can reduce inflammation. These are genuinely useful tools, and we’d never tell a patient to skip them entirely.
But neither stretching nor rest corrects spinal misalignment. They address the muscles and the inflammation around the problem — not the structural problem itself.
It’s like having a tire out of alignment on your car. You can rotate the tires, inflate them perfectly, and drive carefully — but until the alignment itself is corrected, the tires are going to keep wearing unevenly.
Your spine works the same way.
What Chiropractic Care Actually Does
Chiropractic care is built on a simple principle: a properly aligned spine is a healthy spine.
When a chiropractor performs a spinal adjustment, they are applying precise, controlled force to specific vertebrae to restore them to their correct position. This relieves pressure on the nerves running through and around the spine, reduces muscle compensation and tension, decreases inflammation in the surrounding tissue, and allows the body’s own healing systems to function properly.
The result isn’t just pain relief — it’s correction of the underlying structural issue that was causing the pain in the first place.
This is why patients who complete a proper course of chiropractic care don’t just feel better temporarily. They stay better — because the root cause has been addressed.
Advanced Tools That Speed Up Recovery
For patients dealing with more severe or stubborn back pain, adjustments alone may not be enough to get the fastest results. At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, we use advanced therapies alongside spinal adjustments to accelerate healing and address tougher cases.
Non-surgical spinal decompression uses a specialized table to gently stretch the spine, creating negative pressure within the disc. This helps herniated or bulging disc material retract, takes pressure off pinched nerves, and promotes the flow of nutrients and oxygen into the disc to support healing. It’s one of the most effective non-invasive treatments available for disc-related back pain — and it avoids the risks and downtime of surgery.
Class IV laser therapy delivers concentrated light energy deep into damaged tissue. This stimulates cellular repair, reduces inflammation at the source, and significantly speeds up the body’s natural healing process. Many patients feel noticeable relief after just a few sessions. Laser therapy is especially effective when combined with adjustments and decompression — each treatment reinforces the others.
These tools aren’t a replacement for correcting spinal alignment. They’re a complement to it — helping your body heal faster once the underlying structural problem has been addressed.
What to Expect at McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland
If you’ve never been to a chiropractor before — or if you’ve had a bad experience somewhere else — here’s exactly what the process looks like at our clinic.
Your first visit begins with a comprehensive consultation. We listen to your history, where your pain is, what makes it better or worse, and what your health goals are. Then we perform a thorough examination to identify the specific areas of misalignment and nerve pressure in your spine.
Your care plan is built specifically for your spine, not a generic protocol. We explain exactly what we found, what we’re going to do about it, and how long we expect it to take. No surprises, no pressure.
Your adjustments are precise and targeted. Many patients feel immediate relief after their first adjustment. Others notice gradual improvement over the first few visits as their spine begins to respond to care.
Your results are the goal. We’re not trying to keep you coming in forever. We want to correct the problem, teach you how to maintain your spinal health, and set you up to live without chronic back pain.
How Long Does It Take?
This is the most common question we get, and the honest answer is: it depends.
A patient who comes in during a mild flare-up with no history of chronic issues may see significant improvement in 6–8 visits. A patient dealing with years of accumulated misalignment and nerve compression may need a longer course of care.
What we can tell you is that waiting always makes it worse. Every week you delay addressing a spinal misalignment is another week your body is compensating, your muscles are tightening, and the problem is deepening.
The best time to start is now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic care safe for back pain?
Yes. Chiropractic care is one of the most well-researched and safest treatments available for musculoskeletal back pain. Serious adverse events are extremely rare. Most patients feel mild soreness after their first few adjustments — similar to how muscles feel after a workout — which resolves quickly.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor in Michigan?
No. You can schedule directly with McAlpine Chiropractic without a referral from your primary care physician.
Will my insurance cover chiropractic care?
Many insurance plans include chiropractic coverage. We recommend calling your insurance provider to verify your benefits, or call our office at 616-392-7031 and we can help you check.
How is chiropractic different from physical therapy?
Physical therapy focuses primarily on strengthening exercises and rehabilitation. Chiropractic care focuses on correcting spinal alignment and relieving nerve pressure. Many patients benefit from both — and we often coordinate care with physical therapists in Holland when appropriate.
What if my back pain is from a car accident or injury?
Auto injury and trauma-related back pain is one of our specialties. Many auto injuries create spinal misalignment that doesn’t cause pain immediately — sometimes symptoms develop weeks later. Early chiropractic evaluation after an accident is strongly recommended.
Ready to stop managing your back pain and actually fix it? Call McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland at 616-392-7031 or book your first appointment online.
Your spine will thank you.