The Spinal Truth

Does stretching really fix pain… or just make it feel better for a few minutes? In this episode of The Spinal Truth Show, Dr. Caleb Slater explains why stretching is often overused in physical therapy, why it usually fails as actual treatment, and what the body often needs instead: active contraction, spinal mobility, and strength through range. If you've been stretching for weeks, months, or years without real relief, this episode is for you.

What happens when someone diagnosed with ulcerative colitis for 20 years goes off Humira and starts addressing the spine instead? In this episode of The Spinal Truth Show, Dr. Caleb Slater sits down with returning guest Bob Seiden to talk about his latest update: improved colonoscopy results, fewer symptoms, better food tolerance, and what happened when stress, travel, and stopping his exercises caused symptoms to creep back in again.

Think your mattress or pillow is causing your pain? In this episode of The Spinal Truth Show, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down why restless sleep, numbness, tingling, shoulder pain, low back pain, and even nighttime symptoms in your arms or legs may actually be coming from your spine — not your bed. They cover the best and worst sleep positions, temporary fixes that can help, and what to do during the day to actually solve the problem. Based on the episode transcript.

Is your TMJ pain really coming from your jaw… or could your neck be the real problem? In this episode of The Spinal Truth Show, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down TMD/TMJ symptoms like jaw clicking, facial pain, ear pain, headaches, trouble chewing, and limited mouth opening. He also explains why common treatments like mouth guards, massage, and passive therapy often fail—and how upper cervical dysfunction, posture, and neck mechanics may be the missing piece.

More and more patients are being told the same thing: "It's just anxiety." But what if your pain isn't psychological? What if your anxiety is actually being caused by chronic physical pain? In this episode, we break down: Why anxiety is increasingly used as a default diagnosis How labels like fibromyalgia or "chronic pain" follow you forever Why short 5–15 minute doctor visits miss real problems The limitations of imaging How pain can create anxiety (not the other way around) The role of the thoracic spine in fight-or-flight symptoms Why symptom management isn't treatment How to advocate for yourself without becoming "Google MD" This isn't anti-medicine. Anxiety is real. But dismissing physical pain as psychological can delay real solutions — and create even more stress. If you've ever left a doctor's office feeling unheard… this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & YouTube 🔗 Learn more at TheSpinalTruth.com

Hip pain is one of the fastest paths to surgery — but what if the hip isn't the real problem? In this episode, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down hip impingement, labral tears, arthritis, and hip replacement, and explains why imaging findings often don't match a patient's symptoms. Many people are told they need surgery based on MRIs or X-rays — even though those same findings are common in people with no pain at all. Dr. Slater explains how spinal and nerve dysfunction can mimic hip joint pain, why pain that travels down the leg is a major red flag, and how patients end up stuck in cycles of physical therapy, injections, and eventually surgery — without addressing the real cause. Topics include: Why hip imaging findings are often misleading The difference between true joint pain and nerve-related pain Why pain at rest matters When hip replacement actually is necessary Why injections and standard PT often fail How one patient avoided hip replacement after years of pain This episode is essential listening for anyone dealing with chronic hip pain, considering surgery, or confused by conflicting medical opinions. 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube 🔗 Learn more at TheSpinalTruth.com

In this episode, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down a topic that challenges conventional thinking around chronic GI conditions — when digestive symptoms may not actually be coming from the gut. Many people diagnosed with Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, IBS, or SIBO cycle through medications, diets, supplements, and biologics with little long-term relief. Dr. Slater explains how spinal and nerve dysfunction can sometimes mimic or worsen GI symptoms — and why this connection is rarely discussed. Topics covered include: How spinal nerve irritation can affect digestion and bowel function The specific GI symptom patterns that raise red flags Why symptoms that come and go matter more than constant ones Common orthopedic clues patients overlook (back, hip, knee, foot pain) Why symptom management isn't the same as fixing the cause What real improvement should look like — and how long it actually takes This episode isn't about dismissing GI disease or replacing medical care. It's about understanding when the nervous system may be contributing — and how to tell if you're chasing the wrong problem. 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube 🔗 Learn more at TheSpinalTruth.com

In this episode, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down one of the most misunderstood decisions in modern medicine: when knee surgery actually makes sense — and when it doesn't. Knee pain is one of the leading causes of unnecessary surgery, often driven by imaging findings that don't match real symptoms. Dr. Slater explains why meniscus tears, arthritis, and "wear and tear" on MRI scans frequently lead patients down the wrong path — and why many knee problems actually originate in the spine or nervous system, not the knee itself. Topics covered include: Who truly needs a total knee replacement Why most meniscus surgeries don't fix long-term pain How normal aging gets mislabeled as "severe arthritis" Why cortisone injections are temporary at best How back and nerve issues sabotage knee recovery What should be tried before considering surgery If you've been told surgery is your only option — or you're trying to avoid it — this episode gives you the context most patients never get. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Slater todayhttps://calendly.com/thespinaltruth Pick up a copy of The Spinal Truth: A New World of Medicinehttps://a.co/d/gLvsA9Q Dr. Caleb Slater, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, TPI introduces an innovative approach to patient care. With a fresh perspective on the human body, he achieves remarkable outcomes across a spectrum of symptoms, from pain and nausea to dizziness and headaches. If you've found conventional treatments lacking and merely addressing symptoms, Dr. Caleb Slater offers a new path to healing. With 15 years of dedication to optimal patient care and certifications in Orthopedics, Maitland, and McKenzie techniques. Schedule your appointment today to experience his transformative approach firsthand.

You've tried it all—meds, massages, injections, braces, ultrasounds, even surgery. But the pain's still there. In this episode of The Spinal Truth, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down why most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain don't actually fix anything—and what truly works to create lasting relief. We cover: The truth about medications, injections, and braces Why passive treatments like massage or acupuncture don't fix the root cause How movement and strength are the only real long-term solutions Why even some physical therapy programs miss the mark What to ask your provider before you waste time and money 👉 If you've ever thought, "I've tried everything," this episode explains why you might need to go back to basics—but do it right. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Slater todayhttps://calendly.com/thespinaltruth Pick up a copy of The Spinal Truth: A New World of Medicinehttps://a.co/d/gLvsA9Q Dr. Caleb Slater, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, TPI introduces an innovative approach to patient care. With a fresh perspective on the human body, he achieves remarkable outcomes across a spectrum of symptoms, from pain and nausea to dizziness and headaches. If you've found conventional treatments lacking and merely addressing symptoms, Dr. Caleb Slater offers a new path to healing. With 15 years of dedication to optimal patient care and certifications in Orthopedics, Maitland, and McKenzie techniques. Schedule your appointment today to experience his transformative approach firsthand.

Not all ankle sprains are created equal. In this episode of The Spinal Truth, Dr. Caleb Slater breaks down what makes a high ankle sprain so different—and so much more serious—than the common rolled ankle. From pain location and healing time to the exact ligaments involved, this episode covers everything you need to know if you or someone you know has suffered this type of injury. We cover: What a high ankle sprain actually is (and how it happens) Why walking on it can make it worse How to tell the difference between high and low ankle sprains The right way to treat it (and when you need imaging or surgery) What recovery looks like—and when you can return to activity 👉 If you're dealing with ankle pain and aren't sure what kind of sprain you have, this episode will help you understand the real difference—and why it matters. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Slater todayhttps://calendly.com/thespinaltruth Pick up a copy of The Spinal Truth: A New World of Medicinehttps://a.co/d/gLvsA9Q Dr. Caleb Slater, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, TPI introduces an innovative approach to patient care. With a fresh perspective on the human body, he achieves remarkable outcomes across a spectrum of symptoms, from pain and nausea to dizziness and headaches. If you've found conventional treatments lacking and merely addressing symptoms, Dr. Caleb Slater offers a new path to healing. With 15 years of dedication to optimal patient care and certifications in Orthopedics, Maitland, and McKenzie techniques. Schedule your appointment today to experience his transformative approach firsthand.

In this episode of The Spinal Truth, Dr. Caleb Slater tackles a sensitive but surprisingly common issue: testicular and penile pain caused by spinal dysfunction. Dr. Slater explains how the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine (T11-L2) innervates the groin and how issues in this "transition zone" can mimic other medical conditions. In this episode, we discuss: The Symptoms: Sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain in the genitals that is often intermittent or triggered by ejaculation. The Anatomy: Why the T11-L2 vertebrae are the culprit and how they affect the groin and hips simultaneously. Common Misdiagnoses: Why this issue is often confused with sports hernias, infections, or pelvic floor dysfunction, leading to unnecessary treatments or surgeries. The Cause: How rotational sports (like baseball and golf) and the "spring-like" nature of the thoracolumbar junction contribute to this injury. The Solution: How identifying spinal stiffness and utilizing flexion exercises (like the modified Jefferson Curl) can often resolve genital pain in as little as two weeks. Disclaimer: Dr. Slater emphasizes that standard medical causes (STDs, tumors, hernias, infection) must be ruled out by a physician before assuming the pain is spinal. If you have ruled out other medical causes and are still suffering, visit TheSpinalTruth.com to schedule a consultation. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Slater todayhttps://calendly.com/thespinaltruth Pick up a copy of The Spinal Truth: A New World of Medicinehttps://a.co/d/gLvsA9Q Dr. Caleb Slater, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, TPI introduces an innovative approach to patient care. With a fresh perspective on the human body, he achieves remarkable outcomes across a spectrum of symptoms, from pain and nausea to dizziness and headaches. If you've found conventional treatments lacking and merely addressing symptoms, Dr. Caleb Slater offers a new path to healing. With 15 years of dedication to optimal patient care and certifications in Orthopedics, Maitland, and McKenzie techniques. Schedule your appointment today to experience his transformative approach firsthand.

In this episode of The Spinal Truth, Dr. Caleb Slater and his wife, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist Danielle Slater, share a deeply personal story about a painful and terrifying condition — the spinal shift. After slipping down the stairs while holding their six-month-old daughter, Danielle was left unable to stand upright, trapped in excruciating pain, and unsure what was happening to her body. Together, Caleb and Danielle break down what a "shift" really is, why it happens, and how most people are misdiagnosed or mistreated when it occurs. They explain how traditional medicine often focuses on masking symptoms with muscle relaxers and pain pills instead of addressing the real, mechanical cause — and how early, targeted physical therapy can completely reverse the problem. This candid discussion offers hope and real solutions for anyone suffering from sudden back pain, nerve pain, or sciatica symptoms that don't seem to make sense. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Slater todayhttps://calendly.com/thespinaltruth Pick up a copy of The Spinal Truth: A New World of Medicinehttps://a.co/d/gLvsA9Q Dr. Caleb Slater, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, TPI introduces an innovative approach to patient care. With a fresh perspective on the human body, he achieves remarkable outcomes across a spectrum of symptoms, from pain and nausea to dizziness and headaches. If you've found conventional treatments lacking and merely addressing symptoms, Dr. Caleb Slater offers a new path to healing. With 15 years of dedication to optimal patient care and certifications in Orthopedics, Maitland, and McKenzie techniques. Schedule your appointment today to experience his transformative approach firsthand.

In this episode of The Spinal Truth, Dr. Caleb Slater sits down with Luke, a patient who struggled with chronic back pain and recurring injuries for over a decade. Luke shares his frustrating journey through the traditional medical system, where standard physical therapy focused on "core neutral" exercises like bird dogs, planks, and monster walks failed to provide lasting relief. In this episode, we cover: The Cycle of Injury: How a sports injury led to ten years of recurring back spasms and sciatica, often triggered by simple movements. Why "Protection" Failed: Why avoiding movement and focusing on static stability (like planks) didn't solve the root cause of Luke's pain. The Turning Point: How Luke utilized posterior pelvic tilts and weighted flexion exercises (like Jefferson Curls) to restore motion rather than restrict it. Real Results: How Luke went from fearing movement to lifting 60 lbs with a flexed spine, eliminating his need for painkillers, and resolving his sciatic pain. Patient Advocacy: The importance of seeking a provider who offers permanent solutions rather than temporary symptom management. If you are tired of the medical system failing you and want to find the root cause of your pain, visit TheSpinalTruth.com to schedule a consultation today. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Slater todayhttps://calendly.com/thespinaltruth Pick up a copy of The Spinal Truth: A New World of Medicinehttps://a.co/d/gLvsA9Q Dr. Caleb Slater, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, COMT, Cert. MDT, TPI introduces an innovative approach to patient care. With a fresh perspective on the human body, he achieves remarkable outcomes across a spectrum of symptoms, from pain and nausea to dizziness and headaches. If you've found conventional treatments lacking and merely addressing symptoms, Dr. Caleb Slater offers a new path to healing. With 15 years of dedication to optimal patient care and certifications in Orthopedics, Maitland, and McKenzie techniques. Schedule your appointment today to experience his transformative approach firsthand.