When the Symptom Isn’t the Problem: Why You Need a Whole-Body Approach to Healing
- Atlas Rising
- Oct 12
- 3 min read
The Research, The Reality, and What We’re Doing About It
We had a conversation with a new patient that perfectly illustrates something we see all the time in our office: the symptom someone comes in with is rarely the full story. In fact, it’s often just the tip of the iceberg.
This particular patient had lower back pain that had been flaring up again. She had tried muscle relaxers — which helped a little — but the pain never fully went away. That’s when she walked through our doors.
And what we found during her first visit highlights why the way we approach care at Atlas Rising is so different.
Most People Are Treating the Symptom, Not the Source
One of the foundational beliefs in our office is this:
The body is a connected system. If you only look at one part, you're missing the bigger picture.
That’s the problem with our current medical model — it's become ultra-specialized. If you go to an orthopedic doctor for your lower back, they’re likely only going to look at your lower back. But what caused that pain in the first place?
In this patient’s case, we discovered the real issues were in her feet, ankles, and neck — not her back.
Her neck had a reverse curve and significant degeneration.
Her feet and gait were completely out of alignment.
Her body had been compensating for years… and now her lower back was screaming for help.
If we had just treated her back pain without looking deeper, we would’ve missed the true cause — and guaranteed that the pain would come back later.
The Same Is True for Gut Health, Hormones, and Inflammation
Angela had a nearly identical conversation the same day — but this time it was about a patient with gut issues.
They had been through scopes and colonoscopies. Gotten the IBS or colitis label. But no one had looked at:
pH levels
Candida overgrowth
Microbiome imbalance
Long-term damage from PPIs (proton pump inhibitors)
Too often, patients are told to stay on acid reducers for life — but what those medications do is eliminate hydrochloric acid, the very thing your body needs to digest food and defend against pathogens.
Most people with reflux don’t have too much acid. They have too little — and that’s why their food sits in the stomach, ferments, and causes even more issues.
It’s Time to Look at the Whole System
Whether you're dealing with lower back pain, fatigue, gut issues, or hormone imbalances, the root cause is almost never isolated to a single body part.
Here’s what we often see that others miss:
Neck and feet issues causing lower back pain
Gut dysfunction driving inflammation, fatigue, and hormonal imbalance
Postural changes affecting digestion, mood, and sleep
Long-term stress wearing down adrenal and nervous system function
Our approach is to put the pieces back together. That’s where real, sustainable healing happens — when you stop chasing symptoms and start rebuilding the foundation.
The Takeaway: Stop Chasing the Pain
If you’re only getting muscle work for your back and not seeing changes…
If you’re taking PPIs or symptom-based meds with no real answers…
If you feel like your care is being chopped up and compartmentalized…
Then it’s time for a new approach.
We’re not here to put a Band-Aid on your symptoms. We’re here to help you understand what your body is trying to say, and then actually do something about it — together.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Westerville or a holistic practitioner who treats the root cause, not just the symptom, we’d love to meet you.
📍 Book your first consultation today and let’s take a look at how everything is connected — so we can get you feeling better, long term.
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