What I Told a New Client With Back Pain

Last week, I enrolled a 52-year-old pilot with chronic back pain. We’ll call him Tim.

Fit guy. Trains six days a week but avoids anything that involves bending or lifting. Can’t even tolerate a 3-hour flight without flaring up.

Here’s the exact email I sent him to lay out the plan and explain why we approach things differently at Valvo Health.

Morning Tim,

I wanted to express how grateful I am to be working with you.

As we kick off the journey together, you should know two things right away:

1. You’re not broken.

2. You’re in the right place.

Most people come into a program like this carrying the weight of a diagnosis.

They’ve been told their MRI shows disc degeneration, a bulging disc, a curved spine, like their body is some kind of fragile machine that’s wearing out.

But here's what most doctors don’t say:

Those same MRI “problems” show up in people with zero pain.
Disc degeneration? Super common in pain-free 20-year-olds.
By age 80, almost everyone has spinal changes. That’s aging, not damage.

So why does pain persist?

Because pain isn’t just about tissue or bone.
It’s about how your brain and body interpret threat.

And that’s why we’re going to do things differently.

I'm not here to “fix” you.
I'm here to help you rebuild trust in your body.

We’ll move, strengthen, breathe, visualize, and test.
We'll work on how you think, not just how you move. Because the nervous system drives everything.

The spine is meant to bend, flex, extend, and rotate.
So we're going to do exactly that.
We’re not avoiding motion. We’re reintroducing it. Gradually, safely, and intentionally.

We’ll use mental imagery, breathwork, and education to teach your system that it’s safe again.
Because the mind leads, and the body follows.

Pain creates stiffness and fear. So, we’ll meet it with exploration and curiosity.
You’ll build strength at end ranges.
You’ll move through different shapes, positions, and exercises that teach your system:
“You’re safe here."
And with that confidence, we'll unleash power and performance you've never felt before.

We’ll also go beyond training.
We’ll talk about the real stuff that matters and affects how we feel. Your FUNCTIONAL diagnosis. Not your medical diagnosis.

Stress, sleep, diet connection, community, recovery, mobility, mood, etc.

All of it plays a role. All of it matters.

Here’s the formula:

Work + Rest = Growth
Stress + Recovery = Adaptation

But simple doesn’t mean easy.

Everything will be dosed.
Every session has a purpose.
And we’ll constantly assess and adjust based on how you’re feeling, performing, and recovering.

We’ll also bring in support when needed.
Whether it’s a functional medicine colleague, a dietary consult, or someone else from the extended team, you’re not doing this alone.

If supplements or other tools make sense, we’ll use them. But only if they’re backed by evidence. No fads. No gimmicks. Just what works.

We expect progress, and we also expect setbacks.
Because that’s how healing works.

The goal isn’t to be pain-free all the time.

It’s okay to have flare-ups.
It’s okay to feel discomfort.
It’s okay to be scared or not feel 100%.

Pain is part of the process.

What matters more is building the flexibility and resilience to keep going, no matter how you feel that day.

Train your body to adapt.
Train your mind to stay steady.
That’s how confidence is built.

And at the end of the day, that’s what this is really about:

Not just getting out of pain.
But becoming someone who knows they can handle whatever life throws at them.

That’s what you’re here for.
That’s what I’m here to help you do.

Let’s get to work.
-Ryan

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Damn, I need that.” Good.
You can work with me directly.

This is what I do inside Valvo Health:
Personalized coaching and recovery solutions for people who are tired of chasing symptoms and want real solutions that rebuild strength, confidence, and long-term performance.

If you're ready to stop avoiding movement and start building a body that can handle whatever life throws at it, reply to this email. I read every response.

You can also follow me and message me on Instagram. It’s where I do the most posting.

Let’s rebuild.

Until next time

That’s all for today. Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help.

• 💊 Looking for top supplements? Access my recommended selections through Fullscript, my online dispensary.

• 📕 Curious about managing pain? Download my “Pain Guide” here.

Need something else? Just reply to this email - read every response.

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See yah out there,

Ryan

DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.