When you're dealing with chronic back pain, it's natural to focus on your spine, the site of your pain.
Maybe you've had an MRI, tried physical therapy, received injections, or even undergone surgery. You've followed your provider's recommendations, made adjustments to your activities, and done your best to manage the pain.
But what happens when your back pain keeps coming back after all of those interventions?
What if you've addressed the structural issues, yet you're still experiencing recurring pain flare-ups?
This is where looking at the whole person becomes important.
Your spine matters. But it doesn't exist in isolation from the rest of your body.
Looking Beyond the Spine Doesn't Mean Ignoring It
I understand firsthand how significant structural back problems can be.
I've undergone three back surgeries, including a failed spinal fusion. I've also experienced additional herniated discs and a vertebral compression fracture following a rollover car accident two years after my 3rd back surgery.
Those injuries were real. The structural problems were real. And the pain was real.
But through my own experiences, I've come to appreciate that supporting someone with chronic back pain can involve more than focusing exclusively on their spine.
Pain is complex. It's influenced by signals from the body, the nervous system, past experiences, and a variety of biological, psychological, and social factors.
That doesn't mean your pain is imaginary or that your back injury isn't important. It means that even when a structural problem is present, other factors may influence how you experience pain and how your body responds to everyday demands.
A whole-person approach considers those additional influences alongside appropriate medical care.
What Does Looking at the Whole Person Actually Involve?
Rather than looking at back pain as an isolated problem, a whole-person approach explores the different aspects of your health and daily life that may be affecting your overall well-being.
For example:
Nutrition: Are there foods you are eating that your body is reacting to - even unknowingly? Have you ever said "This is going to give me acid reflux later, but it's worth it!" Because that's a sign your body is reacting to what you are eating.
Sleep: Are you consistently getting restorative sleep, or are you waking frequently, struggling to fall asleep, or feeling exhausted despite spending enough time in bed?
Stress: Are you navigating ongoing emotional, mental, or physical stress? How does your body respond during particularly demanding periods?
Movement: Are your daily activities appropriate for your current abilities? Are you balancing movement with adequate recovery, or are you caught in a cycle of doing too much on good days and very little on difficult days?
Daily habits: What does a typical day look like? Are there routines, demands, or patterns that could be affecting your energy, recovery, and ability to manage pain?
These factors don't necessarily cause chronic back pain. However, they can influence the broader environment in which your body functions and recovers.
And importantly, they don't affect everyone in the same way.
What Does This Look Like in Everyday Life?
Imagine two people who both experience recurring lower back pain.
One person notices that their flare-ups frequently occur during particularly stressful weeks when they're sleeping poorly, skipping meals, and spending long hours sitting at work.
Another person finds that their symptoms tend to worsen after eating certain foods.
Both individuals may have similar back pain, but their daily routines and potential contributing factors look very different.
That's why a whole-person approach isn't about giving everyone the same list of recommendations.
It's about asking questions, recognizing patterns, and identifying which areas may be worth addressing for that individual.
Sometimes the most useful starting point isn't another complicated routine. It may be improving meal consistency, removing foods your body is negatively reacting to, establishing a more predictable sleep schedule, or finding a sustainable balance between activity and recovery.
Why I Believe in Starting Small
When people are struggling with chronic pain, they're often already overwhelmed. I know - I've been there many, many times before.
The last thing they need is a long list of changes they're expected to make overnight.
That's why I believe meaningful lifestyle changes should begin with manageable and sustainable steps.
For one person, that might mean adding a protein-rich breakfast instead of skipping their morning meal.
For someone else, it might mean investigating foods that cause reactions or incorporating short movement breaks throughout the workday.
These changes may seem small, but consistency matters.
Over time, manageable habits can build a stronger foundation for overall health. And when those habits become part of your everyday routine, they're much more likely to last.
The goal isn't perfection. It's progress that fits into your life.
How Alera Functional Health Approaches Chronic Back Pain
At Alera Functional Health, my focus is helping individuals with recurring back pain explore the nutrition and lifestyle factors that may be influencing their overall health and well-being.
Through my 12-week 1:1 Functional Nutrition Coaching Program, I take a personalized approach with my clients.
Rather than jumping straight into a restrictive diet or an overwhelming list of changes, we begin by looking at your current routines, health history, nutrition patterns, sleep, stress, and daily habits.
From there, we identify practical areas to work on and build changes gradually, based on your individual needs and goals.
This approach isn't intended to replace medical treatment, physical therapy, or other care from licensed healthcare professionals. Instead, it's designed to complement appropriate care by addressing aspects of everyday health that may not always receive the same attention.
Because when you're dealing with chronic back pain, you deserve to be seen as more than just a spine.
Your Back Is Part of a Bigger Picture
If your back pain keeps coming back, it doesn't necessarily mean you've done something wrong or that every flare-up represents a new injury.
It may be worth considering the bigger picture.
How are you sleeping? How are you fueling your body? What demands are you navigating? Are your daily routines supporting your overall health?
You may not be able to control every factor influencing your pain, but there may be areas of your health and lifestyle where meaningful, sustainable changes are possible.
When dealing with back pain, you have to look at the whole person.
And sometimes, looking beyond the spine can open the door to a different way of supporting your health.
Ready to Look Beyond the Spine?
If you're struggling with recurring back pain and wondering whether nutrition and lifestyle factors could be part of your bigger picture, I'd love to connect.
Schedule a free discovery call to learn more about Alera Functional Health's personalized 12-week coaching program and whether it's a good fit for your needs.
If this resonates with you, follow along on Instagram at @alera_functional_health where I share more root-cause health and inflammation support strategies.
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 and founder of Alera Functional Health. She helps people with recurring back pain look beyond the spine to identify often-overlooked factors that may be influencing how they feel, including nutrition, sleep, stress, digestion, inflammation, and recovery.
After experiencing years of chronic back pain, multiple surgeries, and a failed spinal fusion herself, Erin understands how frustrating it can be when pain continues to interfere with the things you want to do. Her approach focuses on practical, sustainable changes that support the whole body and help clients better understand their individual patterns, so they can spend less time organizing their lives around back pain.
