I Didn't Realize My Food Allergies Were Affecting My Back Pain
For years, I believed my back pain was purely structural.
Considering my history, that seemed like a reasonable assumption.
I had my first back surgery at 17 years old after a horseback riding accident herniated a disc in my back. Years later, I underwent a spinal fusion. After complications with the hardware, I needed a third surgery to remove the rods and screws. Then a rollover car accident left me with multiple herniated discs throughout my neck, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine, along with a compression fracture.
Pain was a regular part of my life.
I struggled to lift my 2 year old. I relied heavily on NSAIDs. Even when I started strength training, I often couldn't work out two days in a row because my back would flare up.
Because I had clear structural reasons for my pain, I never questioned whether something else might also be contributing.
What I didn't realize was that I was regularly eating foods my body was reacting to.
When I thought of food allergies, I always thought of severe reactions or anaphylaxis. I had no idea it could have been anything different.
I wasn't experiencing anything dramatic.
Instead, I had symptoms that seemed completely unrelated to my spine and just seemed like a “normal” part of aging (even though I was only in my 20s and 30s):
Acid reflux
Stomach pain
Digestive discomfort
Joint pain
I never connected those symptoms to the foods I was eating.
What I eventually learned was that when the immune system reacts to foods it perceives as a threat, inflammation can increase throughout the body.
At the time, I already had significant inflammation associated with multiple spinal injuries and disc issues. By continuing to eat foods that my body was reacting to, I was unknowingly adding another source of inflammation to the mix.
Looking back, it makes perfect sense.
My body wasn't just dealing with injured discs.
It was also dealing with ongoing immune reactions that were contributing to my overall inflammatory load.
Once I identified my food allergies and eliminated those foods, things gradually began to change.
Not overnight - it took a few weeks for each of my allergens to clear out of my system.
Not because my herniated discs disappeared - because they had not and likely never will without surgical intervention.
Not because my spine suddenly became perfect - because it’s far from that.
But because I was removing one source of inflammation that had been placing additional stress on my body every single day.
Over time, my pain levels improved significantly.
Today, I still have herniated discs.
But I rarely experience the level of back pain that once controlled my life.
Were food allergies the only factor?
No.
Strength training played an important role. Sleep played an important role. Managing stress helped. Learning to maintain more stable blood sugar levels made a difference. Regular movement and mobility work mattered too.
But identifying my food allergies was one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that pain isn't always just about the injured body part.
Sometimes there are other factors influencing how much pain we experience, including inflammation, recovery, stress, nutrition, and the signals our bodies are constantly sending us.
For years, I focused only on my spine.
I wish I had understood sooner that supporting my whole body mattered too.
If you're struggling with chronic back pain, sometimes the question isn't only "What's wrong with my back?"
Sometimes it's also worth asking:
"What else might be contributing to inflammation in my body?"
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 Counselor 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.
