The Modern Pain Podcast

Chronic pain care is stuck—and definitions may be the reason.In Part 1 of this two-part series, we reset how clinicians talk about nociception and pain.This episode is a recording of a live interview with pain researcher and clinician Asaf Weissman, whose work explores the relationship between nociception and pain—and why confusion in the field creates real-world harm for patients.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why “just semantics” becomes a patient trust problemHow mixed messages (“all in your head” vs “tissue damage”) derail careWhy “nothing is wrong with your body” is an overreachWhere neuroimmune processes may fit in chronic pain biologyWhy psychological interventions tend to show only modest effects on pain intensityHow clearer definitions could move research and practice forwardThis is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Here, we focus on the foundations—definitions, clinical frustration, and the biological plausibility behind what patients feel. Part 2 will go deeper into implications for treatment and the direction pain care needs next.Subscribe for Part 2.Join the Modern Pain Pro community.Enroll in Pain Practice OS.*********************************************************************📸 - Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernpaincare/🐦 - Follow us on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/modernpaincare/🎙️ - Listen to our Podcast - https://www.modernpaincare.com____________________________________Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness

Enrolling our next cohort of Pain Practice OS soon - JOIN US!Most back pain improves – but how we guide recovery makes all the difference.In this part 2 conversation with Dr. Jim Eubanks, we dig into:First-line care for acute low back painWhy rest is often the worst adviceThe role (and limits) of hands-on careWhen and how pain procedures fit into a planClear guidance on when to refer to a physiatristNavigating complex cases that stall in recoveryFuture potential (and current pitfalls) of regenerative medicineThis episode brings clarity and clinical confidence to some of the most debated decisions in spine care.Subscribe for more evidence-aware guidance, and check the links below for show notes, resources, and clinician tools.*********************************************************************📸 - Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernpaincare/🐦 - Follow us on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/modernpaincare/🎙️ - Listen to our Podcast - https://www.modernpaincare.com____________________________________Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness

In this episode, Dr. Jim Eubanks, physiatrist and spine specialist, breaks down the most harmful back pain myths patients encounter online-and what clinicians can say instead. If you've ever struggled to help a patient move past catastrophic thinking or scary MRI language, this conversation will give you the tools to reframe pain, imaging, and recovery.What you'll learn:Why "pain equals damage" keeps patients stuck in fear and avoidanceHow to translate radiology reports into plain language that empowers movementWhen imaging is actually necessary (and when it's not)The role of lifestyle, sleep, stress, and psychological factors in back pain recoveryWhy rehabilitation should almost always come first-even before imagingThis is part one of a two-part series. Part two dives into first-line care, injections, procedures, and when to involve a specialist.🎧 Listen to the full podcast 💬 Join Modern Pain Pro for mentorship, case discussions, and clinical resources → modernpaincare.com📘 Learn about Pain Practice OS → Our flagship program for clinicians building local pain programsYour work matters-let's build modern pain care together.#BackPain #PhysicalTherapy #ChronicPain #PainScience #Physiatry #RehabFirst*********************************************************************📸 - Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernpaincare/🐦 - Follow us on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/modernpaincare/🎙️ - Listen to our Podcast - https://www.modernpaincare.com____________________________________Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Shepherd, fellowship program director, to tackle a controversial question: Is the "manual therapy" label holding back our profession? We explore whether orthopedic manual physical therapy should rebrand itself as the research evolves and public perception shifts.What we cover:Why fellowship training is about reasoning, not just techniqueThe disconnect between what OMPT actually is vs. how it's perceivedHow branding affects patient expectations and clinician identityWhether the manual therapy name limits our ability to attract new fellowsThe role of touch in modern pain care—and why it shouldn't define usThis is a nuanced conversation between two fellows who deeply respect the training but question whether our messaging matches our methods in 2025.🎧 Modern Pain Care Resources:Join the Modern Pain Pro community Learn about Pain Practice OS #PhysicalTherapy #ManualTherapy #OMPT #PainCare #Fellowship #PainScience #Physio*********************************************************************📸 - Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernpaincare/🐦 - Follow us on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/modernpaincare/🎙️ - Listen to our Podcast - https://www.modernpaincare.com____________________________________Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness

Try Pain Coach Connect with Lachlan on LinkedInStruggling to turn complex chronic pain into simple, actionable care plans your patients can follow?In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, Mark sits down with physiotherapist and Pain Coach founder Lachlan Townend to unpack how lifestyle data, clinical reasoning, and tech can finally work together instead of against each other.Lachlan shares his own journey with persistent groin pain, why the traditional biopsychosocial model often becomes “woo-woo” and unmeasured, and how he built Pain Coach to help clinicians track sleep, exercise, social connection, nutrition, and psychological distress in a way that actually guides treatment.You’ll hear us dive into:How Lachlan’s personal pain story shaped his empathy and practiceWhy patients don’t want “complexity” – they want simple, actionable stepsThe limitations of manual therapy and short-term fixes (without throwing them out entirely)How to use lifestyle tracking as a clinical support tool, not a replacement for reasoningUsing data to test-treat-retest lifestyle changes over timeThe tension between research, incentives, and real-world outcomesHow AI could help clinicians ask better questions of their patients’ dataIf you’re a physio, PT, chiro, OT, pain coach, or any clinician working with persistent pain, this conversation will give you a concrete way to move beyond the “magic hands” model and into measurable, whole-person care.*********************************************************************📸 - Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modernpaincare/🐦 - Follow us on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/modernpaincare/🎙️ - Listen to our Podcast - https://www.modernpaincare.com____________________________________Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness