The Modern Pain Podcast

Part 2 goes from definitions to implications.
Bottom-up pain does not mean “it’s in the tissues.”
This episode is a recording of a live interview with pain researcher and clinician Asaf Weissman. If you haven’t watched Part 1, start there—we laid the foundation: why pain semantics matter, how mixed messages harm patients, and why “nothing is wrong with your body” is an overreach.
In Part 2, we dig into:
What “always bottom up” actually means (and what it doesn’t)
Structural paradigm vs pathophysiology: why imaging often fails us
Why stress, fear, and emotions are usually modulators, not causes
Threshold models: when trajectories may (and may not) be changeable
The case for neuroimmune mechanisms in chronic pain states
Where diagnostics and biologics may take chronic pain care next
What role physios may play as case managers and guides

This is the second half of a two-part series. Part 1 builds the framework. Part 2 challenges how we interpret evidence, scope, and clinical uncertainty—while staying anchored to what helps the patient in front of you.

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Modern Pain Care is a company dedicated to spreading evidence-based and person-centered information about pain, prevention, and overall fitness and wellness

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 problem
How mixed messages (“all in your head” vs “tissue damage”) derail care
Why “nothing is wrong with your body” is an overreach
Where neuroimmune processes may fit in chronic pain biology
Why psychological interventions tend to show only modest effects on pain intensity
How clearer definitions could move research and practice forward
This 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.

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📸 - 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 pain
Why rest is often the worst advice
The role (and limits) of hands-on care
When and how pain procedures fit into a plan
Clear guidance on when to refer to a physiatrist
Navigating complex cases that stall in recovery
Future potential (and current pitfalls) of regenerative medicine
This 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.

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📸 - 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 avoidance
How to translate radiology reports into plain language that empowers movement
When imaging is actually necessary (and when it's not)
The role of lifestyle, sleep, stress, and psychological factors in back pain recovery
Why rehabilitation should almost always come first-even before imaging
This 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 programs
Your work matters-let's build modern pain care together.
#BackPain #PhysicalTherapy #ChronicPain #PainScience #Physiatry #RehabFirst

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📸 - 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 technique
The disconnect between what OMPT actually is vs. how it's perceived
How branding affects patient expectations and clinician identity
Whether the manual therapy name limits our ability to attract new fellows
The role of touch in modern pain care—and why it shouldn't define us
This 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

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📸 - 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