Neck Pain Treatment
What Is Neck Pain — and When Should You Take It Seriously?
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in the United States. Most people experience it at some point. Your cervical spine — the seven vertebrae that make up your neck — supports the full weight of your head (roughly 10-12 pounds) while allowing more range of motion than any other part of your spine. That combination of mobility and load makes it vulnerable to injury and degeneration.
There’s an important difference between a stiff neck that resolves in a day or two and neck pain that keeps returning, spreads to other parts of your body, or comes with neurological symptoms.
You should take your neck pain seriously if you’re experiencing any of the following:
- Pain that radiates from your neck into your shoulder, arm, or hand
- Numbness or tingling in your fingers — especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers (the specific fingers affected indicate which cervical nerve root is involved)
- A stiff neck that doesn’t improve after a few days of rest
- Weakness in your grip or difficulty holding objects
- Headaches that start at the base of your skull and wrap forward
- Pain that worsens when you look up, turn your head, or sit at a desk for extended periods
- Neck pain after a car accident, even if it didn’t start immediately
These symptoms often point to a structural problem in your cervical spine — the seven vertebrae that make up your neck. And structural problems require structural solutions.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Most chronic or recurring neck pain in Holland, MI patients stems from one or more of these underlying issues:
Cervical disc herniation or bulging. The discs between your cervical vertebrae can herniate or bulge due to injury, repetitive stress, or age-related degeneration. When a disc pushes into the spinal canal or nerve root, it creates pain, numbness, and weakness that can travel the full length of your arm.
Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck). This is the clinical term for a compressed nerve root in the cervical spine. Cervical radiculopathy causes radiating pain, tingling, and numbness that follows a specific nerve path — typically from your neck through your shoulder and arm into specific fingers. It’s often caused by a herniated disc or bone spur narrowing the space where the nerve exits the spine.
Whiplash. A sudden acceleration-deceleration force — most commonly from a car accident — can damage the muscles, ligaments, discs, and joints in your neck. Whiplash symptoms often don’t appear for hours or even days after the injury, which is why many people don’t connect their neck pain to the accident that caused it.
Spinal misalignment (aka subluxation). When cervical vertebrae shift out of their proper position, they create abnormal pressure on surrounding nerves, muscles, and discs. This misalignment is a leading cause of chronic stiff neck, tension headaches, and restricted range of motion.
Degenerative disc disease and arthritis. Over time, the discs in your neck lose height and hydration. Bone spurs can form. The space available for your spinal cord and nerve roots narrows. These degenerative changes are common after age 40 — and they’re treatable, even though they’re not reversible.
Postural stress. Hours spent looking at screens, driving, or working at a desk push your head forward of your shoulders. For every inch your head moves forward, your cervical spine bears an additional 10 pounds of effective weight. This chronic overload leads to muscle fatigue, joint irritation, and disc stress.
How We Treat Neck Pain at McAlpine Chiropractic
At our Holland, MI clinic, we don’t guess. Every neck pain treatment plan starts with a thorough examination — including a full history, orthopedic and neurological testing, and diagnostic imaging when needed. Our chiropractors can order X-rays and MRI directly, so you won’t need a separate referral to get a clear picture of what’s happening in your cervical spine.
Once we know the cause, we use a combination of treatments tailored to your specific condition:
1. Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments are the foundation of neck pain treatment at McAlpine. Precise, controlled corrections to the cervical vertebrae restore proper alignment, relieve nerve pressure, reduce muscle tension, and improve range of motion. For many patients with a stiff neck, misalignment-driven headaches, or early-stage radiculopathy, adjustments alone produce significant improvement.
2. Non-Surgical Cervical Spinal Decompression (SpineMed Table)
For patients with cervical disc herniations, pinched nerves in the neck, or cervical radiculopathy that hasn’t responded to adjustments alone, we offer non-surgical spinal decompression using the SpineMed decompression table — an FDA-cleared system specifically designed for cervical decompression.
Here’s what makes the SpineMed different from ordinary traction:
- Precision angle targeting. The table tilts between 0 and 30 degrees to isolate the exact cervical disc that’s causing your symptoms — not the ones above or below it.
- No jaw pressure. The SpineMed cradles your head with gel-padded brackets positioned behind your skull. There are no straps across your face or jaw — which means no TMJ aggravation, no discomfort, and no claustrophobia.
- Controlled, cycling force. The system uses a patented protocol that gently stretches and releases, creating negative pressure inside the targeted disc. This vacuum effect pulls herniated disc material back toward the center, away from the compressed nerve, while drawing nutrients and oxygen into the disc to promote healing.
Each cervical decompression session lasts approximately 30 minutes. Most patients describe it as comfortable — many fall asleep during treatment.
3. Class IV Laser Therapy
Class IV laser therapy delivers concentrated light energy deep into the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the cervical spine. This reduces inflammation at the cellular level, accelerates tissue repair, and provides measurable pain relief — often within the first few sessions.
Laser therapy is especially effective when combined with adjustments and decompression. Each treatment reinforces the others: adjustments restore alignment, decompression addresses the disc, and laser therapy accelerates healing of the surrounding soft tissue.
4. Postural Correction and Ergonomic Guidance
Treating neck pain without addressing the habits that contributed to it is like fixing a leak without patching the roof. We work with you on workstation setup, sleeping position, phone and screen habits, and specific corrective exercises to reduce the daily load on your cervical spine.
5. Coordinated Care
When your condition requires additional evaluation — such as nerve conduction studies or a surgical consultation — we coordinate with local specialists in Holland, MI. Our goal is always to exhaust conservative treatment options first, but we’ll tell you honestly if your case requires a different approach.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit at McAlpine Chiropractic is designed to answer one question: what’s actually causing your neck pain?
We start with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, your history, and what you’ve already tried. Then we perform a hands-on examination — checking your range of motion, testing your reflexes, evaluating muscle strength, and assessing nerve function in your arms and hands.
If we need imaging, our doctors — Dr. Phillip Maletta, Dr. Ben De Young, and Dr. Ann McAlpine — can order X-rays or MRI directly from our office. No waiting for a referral. No delays.
Before you leave, you’ll know what’s wrong, what we recommend, and what results you can realistically expect. No surprises. No pressure.
Why Choose McAlpine Chiropractic for Neck Pain Treatment
- Three experienced chiropractors — Dr. Phillip Maletta, Dr. Ben De Young, and Dr. Ann McAlpine bring decades of combined clinical experience treating cervical spine conditions.
- Advanced technology — We’re one of the few clinics in Holland, MI offering both FDA-cleared cervical spinal decompression (SpineMed) and Class IV laser therapy under one roof.
- In-house diagnostic imaging — Our chiropractors can order X-rays and MRI, eliminating delays and referral bottlenecks.
- Proven track record — Over 30 years serving Holland and the surrounding West Michigan community with a 4.8+ star rating on Google.
- Conservative-first philosophy — We exhaust every non-surgical option before ever recommending surgery. Many of our patients were told surgery was their only option — and we helped them avoid it.
Learn more about our team and clinic.
What Our Patients Say
“Took care of neck pain.” — Verified Patient Review
“Dr. Ann and her staff are truly awesome and very friendly. They give excellent care and always get me in as soon as possible. I feel so much better since starting chiropractic care with McAlpine Chiropractic Clinic.” — Verified Patient Review
[PLACEHOLDER — Add a neck-pain-specific or whiplash-specific patient testimonial here. Requires signed Testimonial and Consent Form or pull from Google reviews. Check `4-Marketing/Testimonials/`.]
(All testimonials from verified patient reviews. Individual results may vary.)
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain Treatment
How do I know if my neck pain is serious enough to see a chiropractor?
If your neck pain lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or comes with symptoms like arm pain, numbness, tingling, headaches, or weakness in your hand — it’s time to get evaluated. These symptoms suggest a structural problem that won’t resolve with rest alone. The sooner it’s addressed, the easier it is to treat.
What is cervical radiculopathy, and can a chiropractor treat it?
Cervical radiculopathy is a pinched nerve in your neck. It’s caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or narrowing of the nerve canal compressing a nerve root. Symptoms include radiating pain, numbness, and tingling from your neck into your shoulder, arm, and fingers. Yes — chiropractors treat cervical radiculopathy regularly using adjustments, spinal decompression, and laser therapy. It’s one of the conditions we see most often at McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI.
Can chiropractic care help with whiplash?
Absolutely. Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries we treat. The sooner you’re evaluated after an accident, the better your outcomes tend to be. Even if your neck pain didn’t start until days after the collision, early treatment prevents the injury from becoming chronic.
Is the SpineMed cervical decompression table safe?
Yes. The SpineMed system is FDA-cleared for cervical spinal decompression. It uses gentle, controlled force — no sudden movements, no high-force traction. The gel-padded head brackets eliminate jaw pressure entirely. Most patients find it very comfortable.
How many treatments will I need for neck pain?
It depends on the cause and severity. A patient with a recent onset stiff neck and mild misalignment may improve significantly in 6–10 visits. A patient with cervical radiculopathy, a herniated disc, or chronic neck pain may need a longer course of care including 20–30 decompression sessions. We’ll give you an honest estimate after your first examination.
Do I need a referral to see you?
No. In Michigan, you can see a chiropractor directly without a referral from your primary care physician. Call our office at 616-392-7031 or book online to schedule.
Does insurance cover neck pain treatment at a chiropractor?
Most insurance plans include some chiropractic coverage. Coverage for spinal decompression varies by plan. Call us at 616-392-7031 and we’ll help you check your benefits before your first visit.
Stop Living With Neck Pain
You don’t have to keep managing the symptoms. You don’t have to keep waking up stiff. And you definitely don’t have to accept surgery as your only option — not until you’ve explored every conservative treatment available.
At McAlpine Chiropractic in Holland, MI, we find the cause of your neck pain and treat it directly. Whether it’s a misalignment, a herniated disc, a pinched nerve, or whiplash — we have the experience, the technology, and the track record to help.
Call 616-392-7031 to schedule your appointment.
Or book online here — it takes less than a minute.
McAlpine Chiropractic
Holland, MI