The Biggest Mistake I Made After Three Back Surgeries
For years, I thought the answer to my recurring back pain had to be found by focusing on my spine. I was wrong.
At 17 years old, after a horseback riding accident, I had my first back surgery.
Before the surgery, I was a runner.
Afterward, I remember hearing words I never expected:
"You'll probably never run again."
As a teenager, that felt like the end of something I loved.
Eventually, I did run again.
But that wasn't the end of my back pain.
Years later, I needed a spinal fusion.
Then another surgery after the fusion failed.
Later, a rollover car accident left me with multiple herniated discs and a vertebral compression fracture.
If anyone had a reason to believe their spine was the entire problem...
It was me.
So I focused on my back.
For years, I did what most people with recurring back pain do.
I went to physical therapy.
I strengthened my core.
I tried chiropractic care.
Massage.
Acupuncture.
Injections.
Imaging.
Every time my pain came back, I assumed there had to be something new happening in my spine.
But something didn't add up.
My pain wasn't always consistent.
Some weeks were much better than others.
Nothing on my MRI explained why.
That's when I started paying attention to something I hadn't considered before.
What if my back wasn't the only thing influencing my pain?
The Pattern I Started Noticing
Over time, I began noticing patterns.
Recovery.
Inflammation.
None of those erased the structural changes in my spine.
I still have previous surgeries.
I still have herniated discs.
Those things didn't disappear.
But addressing the factors influencing inflammation helped reduce how often my pain flared up.
That's why I started Alera Functional Health.
Today I still love to run.
I compete in triathlons.
I strength train.
I hike.
I travel.
Not because I found a miracle cure.
But because I stopped assuming recurring back pain was only about my back.
The Bigger Lesson
I'm not suggesting everyone's pain has the same cause.
Recurring back pain is complex.
But if you've been told your imaging explains everything and you're still searching for answers it may be worth looking at the bigger picture.
Sometimes the missing pieces aren't in your spine.
They're in everything supporting your body around it.
If you're wondering where to start, I created a free guide called:
7 Hidden Reasons Your Back Pain Keeps Flaring Up (Even When You're Doing Everything "Right").
If this resonates with you, follow along on Instagram at @alera_functional_health where I share more root-cause health and inflammation support strategies.
You can also get a copy of my Root Cause Roadmap: 7 Hidden Reasons Your Back Pain Keeps Flaring Up (Even When You’re Doing Everything “Right”) on my homepage.
If you’d like a personalized plan that fits your life and helps you feel your best, I’m here to help. Interested in learning more about how you can optimize your health and finally find relief from your symptoms? Schedule a free Discovery Call with me by clicking here.
About The Author
Erin Briley is a Certified Functional Nutrition Coach who helps individuals understand their bodies and pursue sustainable, root-cause healing. She guides clients in making sense of their symptoms and identifying the deeper factors influencing their health. Her own recovery from chronic pain through functional nutrition strengthened her belief in the power of personalized lifestyle changes. As a mom of three in competitive travel sports, she focuses on simple, realistic habits that help people boost energy, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and feel confident in their ability to thrive.
