Host Andy, a physical therapist, and co-host Andrew, an exercise physiologist, interview “San Diego Mike” about finally getting relief after about 13 years of recurrent flare-ups from an L5-S1 disc herniation. Mike describes an active lifestyle (basketball, surfing, climbing, tennis, beach volleyball) and years of cycling through multiple PT clinics, self-remedies, and frequent ibuprofen without understanding triggers or root causes; he recalls being told surgery would require disc replacement and he’d likely have to live with it. A recent PT helped him identify flexion-related and jerky-sport movements as flare triggers, adopt core bracing and hip-hinge strategies, and build sport-specific strength (RDLs, squats, band hips), allowing continued volleyball and fewer symptoms, with remaining fatigue and occasional leg sensations. The wrap-up highlights positive movement experiences, balancing passive and active care, pros/cons of rigid bracing versus relaxation, activity modification, and hypervigilance/fear in chronic pain.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:55 Meet San Diego Mike

01:35 Active Lifestyle Breakdown

04:42 Beach Volleyball Focus

05:36 PT Routine And Training

08:53 Trigger Movements Insight

12:16 Origin Of The Injury

14:01 Years Of Trial And Error

18:30 Symptoms And MRI Details 24:06 Breaking The Flare Up Cycle

26:36 Bracing In Sports And Walking

30:49 Daily Life Modifications

32:13 Guardrails and flareups

33:13 Fatigue cues and leg symptoms

35:42 Lifestyle factors and stress 3

7:45 Medical advice and surgery fears

41:44 Soreness vs pain confusion

44:31 Hypervigilance and deadlift trust

47:14 Parsing safe soreness

49:43 Goodbyes and episode close

50:54 Host recap key takeaways

54:20 Rigid trunk pros and cons

58:24 Relaxing the brace strategy

01:01:36 Fear and chronic pain wrap

In episode three of the 'Stabbed in the Back' podcast, host Andy, a physical therapist specializing in back pain, and his cohost Andrew, an exercise physiologist, share insights into managing and overcoming chronic back pain. With a special guest named Noah, who details his personal journey from experiencing debilitating back pain to finding effective management techniques. The episode dives into the complexities of back pain, the necessity of individualized approaches, and the various methods that can help, including the controversial but widely discussed McGill Big Three exercises. Noah's story emphasizes the importance of patience, avoiding triggers, and adopting a holistic perspective that incorporates biomechanics and psychosocial factors. The discussion also touches on the importance of adjusting one's mindset and not panicking in the face of pain, as well as the practical strategies for day-to-day management and long-term recovery.

Links:

• E3 Rehab with Stu McGill
• Brian Carroll's Book Gift of Injury
• Back Mechanic by Stu McGill
• Andy's Instagram & YouTube
• Andrew's Instagram

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:21 Understanding Back Pain

00:54 Guest Introduction: Noah's Story

01:58 Noah's Back Pain Journey

04:54 Rehabilitation and Recovery

09:00 Clinical Insights and Approaches

13:38 Working with a Coach

25:59 Exploring McGill's Methods

30:36 Challenges with McGill Big Three

31:26 Importance of Setting Rehab Goals

33:02 Time and Patience in Rehab

33:26 Avoiding Pain Triggers

35:18 Misinterpretations of McGill's Work

36:13 Personalizing Rehab Approaches

45:32 Psychosocial Aspects of Pain

52:57 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Overcoming Chronic Back Pain: Kenza's Journey to Recovery

In this episode of the 'Stabbed in the Back' podcast, Andy, a physical therapist, and Andrew, an exercise physiologist, discuss the complex nature of chronic back pain.

They are joined by Kenza, who shares her inspiring story of overcoming back pain after months of physical therapy and a pivotal experience reading Alan Gordon's book, 'The Way Out.' Kenza talks about her journey from injury at her wedding to a full recovery, highlighting the role of neuroplastic pain and the importance of maintaining an open mind.

The episode explores the nuances of pain management, patient experiences, and the relevance of psychological factors in physical recovery.

Listeners are encouraged to have hope and consider diverse approaches to managing chronic pain.

Click Here for Alan Gordon's Book, The Way Out

Andy's Instagram & YouTube

Andrew's Instagram

00:00 Introduction to Stabbed in the Back Podcast

00:59 Meet Kenza: Overcoming Back Pain

02:14 The Wedding Incident: A Painful Beginning

05:00 Navigating the Medical System

14:20 The Turning Point: Discovering The Way Out

29:51 Understanding Pain and Healing

30:32 The Role of Context in Pain Perception

31:35 Pain Neuroscience and Misconceptions

32:17 Factors Influencing Pain Perception

33:27 Exploring Structural vs. Neuroplastic Pain

35:10 Combining Biomechanics and Neuroplasticity

38:44 Practical Strategies for Managing Pain

40:35 Patient Stories and Emotional Journaling

43:30 The Importance of Cognitive and Emotional Approaches 51:41 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Andy's Instagram & YouTube

Andrew's Instagram

The true crime is how sometimes the medical system leaves you feeling lost, without answers, and hopeless.

Listen & Have Hope.

These are your back pain stories.

In this episode, we introduce our podcast 'Stabbed in the Back,' where hosts Andy, a physical therapist, and Andrew, an exercise physiologist, share their passion for helping people with chronic back pain.

They discuss the pitfalls of the medical system and the importance of narratives and self-management. The special guest Rachel shares her journey of battling and managing chronic back pain, highlighting the significance of finding the right support and maintaining hope.

Tune in for an insightful conversation filled with practical advice on overcoming back pain.

• 00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Backgrounds
• 00:23 Purpose of the Podcast
• 01:26 Andrew's Role and Exercise Physiology
• 03:48 Introducing Today's Guest: Rachel
• 04:39 Rachel's Journey with Back Pain
• 13:59 Exploring Solutions and Misconceptions
• 15:38 The Importance of Personalized Treatment
• 23:34 The Art and Science of Medicine
• 26:23 Struggling with Chronic Back Pain
• 28:12 Misdiagnosing Hip Pain
• 30:00 Finding Relief Through Exercises
• 32:09 Temporary Solutions: Soft Tissue Work and Chiropractic
• 34:27 The Importance of Holistic Treatment
• 37:51 Empowering Yourself to Manage Pain
• 39:05 Final Thoughts and Advice