The Modern Pain Podcast

Modern Pain Care
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The Modern Pain Podcast helps clinicians and patients better understand and treat pain. We bring clinicians, researchers, and patients together. Our focus is on returning the patient's voice back to healthcare. Brought to you by Modern Pain Care. 

  1. 3D AGO

    Mindfulness for Chronic Pain: The Neuroscience Clincians Miss

    Mindfulness for pain isn’t candles and breathing apps. It’s measurable, mechanism-based analgesia. In this episode, we break down what the neuroscience actually shows about mindfulness and pain modulation—and why it works through pathways completely independent of opioids. You’ll learn: How mindfulness decouples sensation from suffering (insula vs. prefrontal activity)Why “trying to relax” can backfire—and what to cue insteadHow thalamic gating may reduce nociceptive input before conscious processingThe role of predictive processing and reduced anticipatory threat (amygdala + salience network)How shifting from narrative mode to experiential mode changes painWhy mindfulness still works even when endogenous opioids are blockedHow improved interoception supports emotional regulation in chronic painThis is not about turning your clinic into an eight-week meditation program. It’s about understanding the mechanisms so you can apply brief, practical strategies in real sessions. If you work with complex or persistent pain, this reframes mindfulness as a clinical skill—not a wellness add-on. Subscribe so you don’t miss Part Two, where we cover the dose-response data and the minimum effective dose. ********************************************************************* 📸 - 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

    14 min

  2. FEB 8

    Chronic Pain Care: When Pain Reduction Keeps Patients Stuck

    What do you do when a patient says, “I don’t care about goals—I just want less pain”? This moment shows up every day in pain care—and how you respond can either reinforce stuckness or help someone get their life back. In this episode, Mark Kargela breaks down why pain reduction isn’t wrong—but often incomplete—and how clinicians can navigate this conversation without invalidating the patient or taking away hope. You’ll learn:  • Why pain reduction alone can narrow a patient’s life  • Red flags that someone is stuck in the pain reduction loop  • How pain scores function as communication—not thermometers  • How to use “creative hopelessness” without confrontation  • Ways to pair short-term relief with long-term valued living  • How to reframe goals when patients fear movement and activity This episode is for clinicians who want practical, psychologically informed tools to manage complex pain conversations—without abandoning pain relief or overstepping their role. If you work with persistent pain, this discussion will sharpen how you listen, how you frame goals, and how you help patients move forward—even when pain doesn’t fully disappear. 👉 Subscribe for weekly evidence-informed conversations on modern pain care. -  @ModernPainPodcast   👉 Explore the links below for related resources and deeper learning: Kenneth Craig Paper on Social Communication Model of Pain A biopsychosocial formulation of pain communication Creative Hopelessness Guide  ********************************************************************* 📸 - 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

    23 min

  3. FEB 1

    HLH Nearly Killed Me—Here’s What It Taught Me About Care

    🎙️ What happens when a clinician becomes the patient—and almost doesn’t survive?  💥 HLH. ICU. Life support. Then… powerlifting again. In this powerful episode, strength coach and physio Jared Maynard shares his shocking journey through a life-threatening diagnosis of HLH, his fight to stay alive, and what he learned about healthcare, humanity, and healing. You’ll learn: What HLH is—and how it nearly ended Jared’s lifeThe deep clinical lessons from losing strength, speech, and independenceHow small human moments in care created lasting impactWhat it’s like to rebuild your life, body, and mindset after ICUHow Jared’s story reshaped his clinical work and coachingWhy “being human” matters more than “having the answer”Whether you’re burned out, feeling disconnected from your work, or want to show up better for patients—this story will move you. 👇 Subscribe for more clinician-to-clinician conversations.  🧠 Join the Modern Pain Pro community. 🎓 Explore Pain Practice OS and start applying modern principles. ********************************************************************* 📸 - 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

    36 min

  4. JAN 11

    Why Imaging Misses Chronic Pain: Structural vs Physiologic Thinking (Part 2)

    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 usWhy stress, fear, and emotions are usually modulators, not causesThreshold models: when trajectories may (and may not) be changeableThe case for neuroimmune mechanisms in chronic pain statesWhere diagnostics and biologics may take chronic pain care nextWhat 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. ********************************************************************* 📸 - 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

    36 min

  5. JAN 4

    Nociception vs Pain: Why Semantics Matter in Chronic Pain (Part 1)

    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

    38 min

  6. 12/28/2025

    Chronic Back Pain? What ACTUALLY Helps Long-Term Recovery

    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

    30 min

  7. 12/14/2025

    The Back Pain Myths Making Recovery Harder (Part 1)

    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 programs Your 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

    34 min

  8. 12/07/2025

    Why "Manual Therapy" Holds OMPT Back (Fellowship Director Responds)

    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

    46 min
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4.6
out of 5
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About

The Modern Pain Podcast helps clinicians and patients better understand and treat pain. We bring clinicians, researchers, and patients together. Our focus is on returning the patient's voice back to healthcare. Brought to you by Modern Pain Care. 

Information

  • Creator
    Modern Pain Care
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    208
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Modern Pain Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Modern Pain Podcast

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