The Bonded Podcast with Dr. Thomas Bond

Thomas
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If you have been dealing with back, joint, or muscle pain that keeps coming back, this Podcast is for you. Maybe physical therapy helped for a while. Maybe injections took the edge off. Maybe you were told surgery is the next step, but you are not convinced anyone has figured out what is actually causing the problem. Dr. Tommy Bond breaks down the injuries and pain patterns that often get missed, including back pain, disc problems, shoulder injuries, knee and hip pain, arthritis, damaged tendons and ligaments, sports injuries, and nerve problems. You will also learn about image-guided testing and treatments such as prolotherapy, PRP, and bone marrow procedures. The goal is to help you understand what is injured, what your options are, and whether there may be a way to get back to normal life without jumping straight into surgery.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    7 SURPRISING THINGS TO AVOID WITH CHRONIC BACK PAIN

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Stretching feels great until it wears off. Your core work isn't holding. Your chiropractic adjustments pop right back out. If any of this sounds familiar, there's a reason your back pain keeps returning, and it's not that you're doing these things wrong. It usually means something deeper is going on with the structure of your spine, and no amount of temporary fixes will solve it until that gets addressed. In this video, I'm going to break down five common habits people use to manage chronic back pain and explain what it means when each one stops working. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 7 SURPRISING THINGS TO AVOID WITH CHRONIC BACK PAIN 0:26 Stretching that doesn't hold 2:33 Core work that isn't improving your back 4:12 When chiropractic adjustments keep slipping 7:15 Why subluxations happen in the first place 9:12 Living on anti inflammatories 11:30 The problem with repeated cortisone shots 12:40 Why steroids cause diminishing returns 13:42 How to actually fix the root problem instead of covering it up QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why does my back feel loose again right after stretching or an adjustment? This usually means the spinal segment is unstable, so the muscles tighten up again to protect it. Stretching or adjusting can temporarily relieve the spasm by loosening tight muscles, but it does not fix the underlying looseness in the joint itself, so the same pattern repeats within hours or days. Is it bad to take anti inflammatories every day for back pain? Yes, because inflammation is actually part of the healing process, and blocking it daily can slow tissue repair while masking the real problem underneath. Daily use of NSAIDs also carries black box warnings for heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and gastrointestinal bleeding, especially with long term use. Do repeated cortisone shots stop working over time? Yes, research shows diminishing returns with repeated steroid injections, meaning each shot tends to provide less relief and for a shorter period than the last. Repeated use can also create scar tissue around the injection site and, especially in women, contribute to local bone loss and weakening of nearby tendons. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more videos on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. 💬 Which of these five have you tried for your back pain? Tell me in the comments, I read every one. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  2. Oct 22

    Cortisone Shots Work FAST for Back Pain. Here’s the Problem

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Cortisone shots can kill back pain fast. That is exactly the problem. Every anti inflammatory drug, including the steroid in your epidural, works against the first step of healing, which means fast relief can come at the cost of a slower recovery. In this video, I'm going to explain how corticosteroid injections actually work in your spine, why they can backfire if used too often, and when they are genuinely the right call. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Cortisone Shots Work FAST for Back Pain. Here’s the Problem 0:17 What a corticosteroid actually is 0:53 Why inflammation is part of healing 1:51 How repeated steroid shots slow healing down 3:26 When epidural steroids make sense 4:35 The risk of injecting steroids too often 5:12 The one acute case where steroids help most 7:05 Why all anti inflammatories are anti healing 9:50 Why painkillers only cover the problem 12:40 When regenerative medicine or surgery is the next step QUESTIONS ANSWERED Do cortisone shots fix the cause of back pain? No. Cortisone shots calm inflammation and reduce pain, but they do not repair the damaged tissue causing the problem. If pain returns after the shot wears off, the underlying issue was never actually fixed. Are cortisone shots bad for you? Occasional, targeted use in an acute, severe flare up can be helpful and reasonable. Repeated use, however, can damage soft tissue, cause scarring or shrinkage, and slow your body's natural healing response. What should I take instead of anti inflammatories for back pain? Tylenol based products relieve pain without blocking the inflammatory pathway your body needs to heal. The better long term solution is identifying the actual source of your pain and treating that directly. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more videos on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. 💬 Have you had a cortisone or epidural shot for your back? Did it fix the problem or just cover it up for a while? Tell me what happened in the comments. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  3. Oct 15

    Doctors Won’t Tell You What Happens AFTER Nerve Ablation for Back Pain!

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Your doctor says burning the nerve will fix your back pain. Nobody tells you what that nerve actually does besides carry pain signals. This gap in the conversation could leave you weaker than before you started. In this video, I'm going to explain what radiofrequency ablation really does to your spine, why it can quietly weaken your stabilizing muscles, and who should actually consider this procedure. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Doctors Won’t Tell You What Happens AFTER Nerve Ablation for Back Pain! 0:22 Why doctors suggest burning the nerve and what it targets 0:57 The hidden motor nerve problem nobody mentions 1:35 Why I stopped doing ablations 2:10 Who RFA might actually help 3:00 The two biggest risks of burning the nerve 3:35 What happens after repeated RFAs 4:12 Treating the facet joint instead of burning it 4:40 When RFA should be a last resort QUESTIONS ANSWERED What does radiofrequency ablation do to your back? Radiofrequency ablation burns the medial branch nerve that carries both pain signals and motor signals to small stabilizing muscles near the facet joints. This can relieve pain short term but also weaken the muscles that support your spine. Is nerve ablation bad for your back long term? Repeated ablations can cause fatty infiltration in the stabilizing muscles, making that part of your spine weaker and less supported. This can set you up for a bigger injury down the road, especially if you stay active. Who is a good candidate for RFA? RFA tends to make more sense for older, less active patients with facet mediated pain who mainly want relief for daily walking and light activity. For active patients, treating the facet joint directly is usually a better first step. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more videos on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. 💬 Have you had a nerve ablation or been told you need one? Tell us about your experience in the comments, I read every one. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  4. Oct 8

    Back Hurts Standing But Not Walking? This Pain Pattern Changes EVERYTHING

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Your back feels fine while you walk, shop, or cut the grass. Then you stand still for five minutes and the pain hits hard, right between your shoulder blades or low in your spine. That is not random, and it is not in your head. There is a specific mechanical reason your spine behaves this way, and most doctors never explain it. In this episode, I'm going to explain why standing still can trigger back pain even when movement does not, and what this pain pattern reveals about spinal instability. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Why standing still hurts more than walking 0:36 Meet Dr. Tommy Bond 1:06 What your muscles do every time you move 2:12 Why your spine needs stabilizing muscles 3:03 The cocktail party syndrome explained 4:12 Why doctors dismiss this pain pattern 5:33 What this pattern says about instability 6:14 Why MRI misses this problem 7:03 Flexion extension X-rays explained 7:52 When instability becomes a surgical problem QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why does my back hurt when standing still but not when walking?  Walking uses repeated muscle contractions that actively stabilize an unstable spinal segment, bracing it with every step. Standing still removes that dynamic support, so gravity slowly pulls the loose segment out of position until the surrounding tissue signals pain. Can an MRI detect this type of back instability?  Usually not, because an MRI is taken lying down, which eliminates gravity's pull and lets an unstable segment settle back into a normal looking position. Flexion and extension X-rays taken while standing and bending are far better at catching this kind of slippage because they capture the spine under real load. What is spondylolisthesis and how does it relate to this pain pattern?  Spondylolisthesis means one vertebra has slipped forward or backward compared to the one next to it, and it is graded one through five based on how far it has moved. Lower grades often respond to stabilization and regenerative treatment, while higher grades can eventually require surgical fusion if the instability keeps worsening. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  5. Oct 1

    Failed Back Surgery: What Do You Do Now?

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com You had the surgery. You did the rehab. You followed every instruction your surgeon gave you. And you are still in pain, maybe even worse than before. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, you are not imagining it, and you are not stuck with this for the rest of your life. In this episode, I'm going to explain what failed back surgery syndrome really is, why it happens so often, and what options you have if you find yourself dealing with pain after your back surgery. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Failed Back Surgery: What Do You Do Now? 0:50 What is failed back surgery syndrome 1:09 How common is this problem really 1:40 When the surgeon says everything looks fine 2:41 Why the surgery only fixed part of your pain 3:36 How fusion overloads the segments around it 4:56 How we find the real pain generators 6:02 The opioid problem no one talks about 7:22 A dancer's story of multiple failed surgeries 9:50 How we helped him get back to dancing ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED What is failed back surgery syndrome? Failed back surgery syndrome is when a patient still has persistent back pain after a lumbar surgery like a discectomy, laminectomy, or fusion. It is considered a syndrome, meaning a cluster of symptoms, not a final diagnosis you are stuck with. Many patients are told their scans look fine, even though their pain is very real and often traceable to a specific, identifiable source. How common is failed back surgery syndrome? Studies show it affects somewhere between 10 percent and 40 percent of patients who undergo lumbar surgery. That means up to 4 in 10 patients may still have pain after their procedure, which makes this far more common than most patients are led to believe before going under the knife. Why does back pain return years after a spinal fusion? Fusing one segment forces the segments above and below it to do extra work they were not designed for. Over 5 to 10 years, this overload often leads to adjacent segment disease, which causes new pain and instability nearby. This is why some patients feel great for a few years after fusion, only to find the pain creeping back in a different location. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. 💬 Have you dealt with pain after back surgery? Tell me your story in the comments. I read every one and I may be able to point you toward help. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  6. Sep 24

    Spine Doctor EXPOSES the Truth About Lumbar Fusion Surgery

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Lumbar fusion surgery is permanent. Hardware goes in, and there is no going back. Before you agree to it, you need to know exactly what it fixes, what it does not, and how often patients actually do well ten years later. In this episode, I'm going to break down what lumbar fusion surgery really is, when it is truly necessary, and why the outcomes are not as good as most patients are told. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Spine Doctor EXPOSES the Truth About Lumbar Fusion Surgery 0:54 What lumbar fusion surgery actually means 1:23 Spondylolisthesis explained simply 2:20 What grade three instability looks like 3:11 The real disability numbers after fusion surgery 4:07 Micro versus gross spinal instability 5:07 When weakness signals you need surgery 5:50 Why fusion should be a last resort 7:34 Real examples where fusion is appropriate 8:26 What to do before you agree to surgery ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED What does lumbar fusion surgery actually do? Lumbar fusion surgery joins two or more vertebrae together to stop abnormal movement in the low back. It is designed to treat gross spinal instability, not general disc degeneration or ordinary back pain. When is lumbar fusion surgery actually necessary? Fusion is appropriate when there is grade three or higher spondylolisthesis, spinal fractures, major trauma, or muscle weakness caused by spinal cord compromise. Outside of these situations, less invasive treatments should be tried first. What percentage of patients are disabled after spinal fusion? Studies show that 25 to 40 percent of patients who undergo multilevel spinal fusion are disabled within ten years, with some outcome measures reaching as high as 50 percent. This is why fusion should be reserved for cases where it is truly needed. 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  7. Sep 17

    PRP vs Stem Cells for Back Pain: Don’t Make This Mistake

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com You've done the physical therapy. You've tried the shots. Now your doctor says you need PRP or stem cells, but nobody explained the difference. Picking the wrong one, or trusting the wrong injector, can cost you months of healing and thousands of dollars. In this episode, I'm going to break down exactly what PRP and stem cells are, how they differ, and the exact questions you need to ask before letting anyone put a needle in your spine. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 PRP vs Stem Cells for Back Pain: Don’t Make This Mistake 0:56 Why definitions matter before your procedure 2:32 What PRP actually is 5:52 Why not all PRP is made the same 8:31 The big five questions to ask your physician 9:41 Why autologous cells matter more than allogenic 11:07 Bone marrow versus fat derived stem cells 11:24 What stem cell count tells you about quality 13:00 The final checklist before you commit QUESTIONS ANSWERED What is the difference between PRP and stem cells for back pain? PRP is a concentrate of your own platelets and growth factors pulled from your blood, while stem cells are living cells, usually from bone marrow or fat, that actively rebuild tissue. Stem cells are generally used for more advanced degeneration, while PRP works well for milder injuries. How do I know if my PRP or stem cell doctor is qualified? Ask if they are certified by the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine or the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation. A qualified physician should also tell you the exact concentration of your PRP or the stem cell count used in your procedure. Are stem cells better than PRP for degenerative disc disease? Stem cells are still considered the top choice for disc procedures because they can do more active repair work than growth factors alone. That said, the right choice always depends on your specific diagnosis and pain generators. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  8. Sep 10

    DON’T TREAT YOUR BACK PAIN UNTIL YOU KNOW THIS!!!

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Your back locks up again after one small twist. You did the physical therapy. You got adjusted. You took the anti-inflammatories. And you're still stuck in the same painful cycle. There is a reason for that, and it is not what most doctors tell you. In this episode, I'm going to walk through the standard back pain treatment pathway, physical therapy, chiropractic care, steroid shots, and nerve ablations, and explain why each one can fail to fix the real problem long term. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 DON’T TREAT YOUR BACK PAIN UNTIL YOU KNOW THIS!!! 0:47 The standard back pain treatment pathway 1:33 What a good physical therapist actually does 2:23 What chiropractic adjustments really fix 4:20 The real reason adjustments stop holding 5:00 The truth about cortisone and steroid shots 7:41 Why nerve ablation can backfire 10:31 Why pain relief is not the same as healing 11:04 Finding every pain generator, not just one 12:08 The instability most doctors miss QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why does my back pain keep coming back after physical therapy or chiropractic care? Recurring pain after treatment usually means an underlying joint instability was never addressed. The muscles keep spasming to protect an unstable joint, so relief from adjustments or therapy is temporary. Are cortisone shots bad for chronic back pain? Cortisone reduces inflammation short term, but inflammation is the first step of healing, so repeated steroid shots can actually slow healing and cause soft tissue scarring over time. Studies show pain relief typically lasts only two weeks to two months. Is nerve ablation a good treatment for back pain? Nerve ablation can numb pain, but the same nerve also controls the small stabilizing muscles of the spine. Destroying it can weaken those muscles and set you up for a bigger injury later. RESOURCES Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  9. Sep 3

    If Your Back Pain Comes Back After Physical Therapy, Do This Next

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com You did the physical therapy. You put in the weeks. And your back still hurts. So what now? Dr. Bond breaks down exactly what to check before your next step, and what your options actually are once PT alone hasn't fixed the problem. In this episode, I'm going to explain what to do when physical therapy doesn't fully resolve your back pain, and why the standard next step isn't your only option. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 If Your Back Pain Comes Back After Physical Therapy, Do This Next 0:16 Did you actually do the work? 1:09 Why physical therapy still matters 1:33 What comes after failed physical therapy 2:09 The problem with corticosteroid injections 3:12 Why anti-inflammatories can slow healing 4:20 How Dr. Bond uses steroids differently 4:54 What IROM regenerative medicine actually is 7:00 How to find a qualified doctor near you 8:35 Red flags to watch for in any clinic ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED What should I do if physical therapy did not fix my back pain? First confirm you actually completed the program correctly and consistently. If you did the work and still hurt, the next step is usually a conservative intervention rather than jumping straight to surgery. Are corticosteroid injections bad for healing? Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory, and inflammation is the first stage of the body's natural healing process. Used carefully in small doses for short periods, they can reduce severe pain enough to let healing begin, but overuse can actually slow recovery. What is IROM and how is it different from standard back pain treatment? IROM stands for Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine, a approach using your own body's biologic substances to help you heal naturally instead of relying on steroids or surgery. It fills the gap between physical therapy and major spine surgery. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtbond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondmedicalcenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bondmedicalcenter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtommybond/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtbond 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  10. Aug 27

    Why Your Back Keeps Going Out

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Your back pain is not gone. It is outside doing push ups, waiting for you to slip up again. If your back keeps locking up on you, something is being missed, and it is usually not random bad luck. Most people treat each flare up as a separate, unrelated event, when in reality there is almost always a pattern connecting them. In this episode, I'm going to break down the real reasons your back keeps going out again and again, and what you need to fix so it finally stops. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Why Your Back Keeps Going Out 0:52 What happens during a back episode 1:36 Why you should lift with your legs 2:27 Weak core versus bad lifting form 2:40 Doing something out of proportion 3:30 The purse lift that locked everything up 4:00 What a herniated disc actually is 6:29 Why physical therapy matters 7:20 How the whole body is connected 8:45 What to do the next time it happens ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why does my back keep going out for no reason? A back that keeps locking up is often a sign of repetitive strain from bad lifting form, a weak core, or doing an activity way out of proportion to what your body is conditioned for. Even small movements like reaching for a purse can trigger a flare if the angle puts too much force through one spinal segment, especially if that segment is already compromised from prior injury. What is a herniated disc? A herniated disc happens when the jelly like center of the disc, called the nucleus, pushes through the outer rings called the annulus. It only takes about nine pounds of pressure in a bad position to cause this kind of injury, which is why even everyday movements can trigger a flare if the disc is already weakened. Can physical therapy help with recurring back pain? Yes. A good physical therapist can spot compensations, such as a weak hip or glute that is forcing your back to work overtime, and correct them so the right muscles share the load. This kind of targeted correction often prevents the same injury from repeating itself month after month. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtbond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondmedicalcenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bondmedicalcenter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtommybond/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtbond 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episodes on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  11. Aug 20

    Diagnosed With Degenerative Disc Disease? Here’s What to Do Next

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com So you got the MRI report back and it says degenerative disc disease. That sounds scary, like your spine is falling apart. It is not. Those two words get thrown around way too loosely, and most doctors never actually explain what they mean or why they show up on almost every adult spine MRI after a certain age. In this episode, I'm going to break down what degenerative disc disease actually is, why it happens, and what you should do before anyone talks you into surgery. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Diagnosed With Degenerative Disc Disease? Here’s What to Do Next 0:57 Spine anatomy in plain English  2:27 What degenerative really means on an MRI  5:24 Is it just wear and tear from aging  9:15 Why your MRI does not always match your pain  13:31 The real cause of disc degeneration  16:20 Why marathon runners disprove the wear and tear myth  21:22 Physical therapy, hamstrings, and core strength  23:52 Why epidural steroid shots do not fix the problem  28:40 What IROM offers as an alternative to fusion surgery ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED  What does degenerative disc disease mean on an MRI?  It means the radiologist saw changes in the disc, like dehydration, height loss, or small tears, compared to a younger, healthier looking spine. It is a description of what an image shows, not a diagnosis of your pain and not a treatment plan on its own. Does degenerative disc disease mean I need surgery?  No. Many people with severe looking MRI findings have little to no pain, while others with mild findings suffer badly, so surgery should only be considered after a proper history, physical exam, and often diagnostic injections confirm the actual source of pain. What actually causes degenerative disc disease?  It is usually caused by instability from loose or stretched ligaments around the spine, sometimes from natural aging but more often from past trauma, repetitive strain, or old injuries that never fully healed, not simple wear and tear like most people assume. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtbond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondmedicalcenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bondmedicalcenter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtommybond/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtbond 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episode on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND  Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #DegenerativeDiscDisease #BackPainRelief #RegenerativeMedicine #SpineHealth #AvoidSurgery

  12. Aug 20

    Your Bad Back MRI Will Scare You...Until You Hear This

    📌 Learn more about IROM procedures at https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com Your MRI report is full of scary words like stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and foraminal narrowing. Most patients have no idea what those terms actually mean. Even worse, some doctors use the MRI alone to schedule surgery without ever examining the patient. In this episode, I'm going to break down the confusing language on your back MRI report and explain why the image alone should never be your entire treatment plan. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Your Bad Back MRI Will Scare You...Until You Hear This 0:21 Meet the spine as a 33 story building  1:31 What spondylolisthesis really means  2:00 Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine explained  4:36 How a vertebra slips out of place  5:43 What spinal stenosis means on your report  6:16 Foraminal stenosis and the sciatic nerve  8:45 Why the foramen window gets pinched  11:26 Why one MRI is not one diagnosis  13:38 Why surgeons should never skip the physical exam ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED  What does spondylolisthesis mean on a back MRI?  Spondylolisthesis means one vertebra has slipped out of alignment with the one above or below it. This creates instability in that section of the spine, similar to a floor of a building shifting out of line with the floors above and below it. What does spinal stenosis mean?  Stenosis simply means narrowing or closing down. On a spine MRI, it usually refers to the central canal narrowing around the spinal cord or the foramen narrowing around a nerve root as it exits the spine. Can my back MRI look bad but not match my symptoms?  Yes, MRI findings do not always correlate with what a patient actually feels. It is common to see stenosis reported on one side of the spine while the patient's pain is on the opposite side, which is why imaging alone should never dictate treatment. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: https://www.BondMedicalCenter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtbond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bondmedicalcenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bondmedicalcenter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtommybond/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drtbond 🔔 If this helped you understand your MRI report, subscribe for more episode on spinal pain, orthopedic pain, and regenerative alternatives to surgery. ABOUT DR. THOMAS BOND  Dr. Thomas Bond, MD, MS, is a board certified sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician with over 20 years of experience treating chronic back, neck, and joint pain. After being told he needed multi level spinal fusions himself, he sought out alternatives and became one of the first five physicians in the Regenexx Physician Network. He was the first physician in Louisiana to perform ultrasound guided PRP and BMAC procedures, has treated over 100,000 patients, and has trained physicians in a dozen countries across three continents. He created the IROM (Interventional Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine) approach to help patients heal and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible. #BackPainRelief #SpineHealth #DegenerativeDiscDisease #RegenerativeMedicine #AvoidSurgery

  • 12 Episodes

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If you have been dealing with back, joint, or muscle pain that keeps coming back, this Podcast is for you. Maybe physical therapy helped for a while. Maybe injections took the edge off. Maybe you were told surgery is the next step, but you are not convinced anyone has figured out what is actually causing the problem. Dr. Tommy Bond breaks down the injuries and pain patterns that often get missed, including back pain, disc problems, shoulder injuries, knee and hip pain, arthritis, damaged tendons and ligaments, sports injuries, and nerve problems. You will also learn about image-guided testing and treatments such as prolotherapy, PRP, and bone marrow procedures. The goal is to help you understand what is injured, what your options are, and whether there may be a way to get back to normal life without jumping straight into surgery.

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Bonded Podcast with Dr. Thomas Bond