The Spinal Truth

Can telehealth actually help with neck pain, back pain, headaches, GI issues, hip pain, and more — or is it just a watered-down version of treatment?

In this episode of The Spinal Truth Show, Dr. Caleb Slater and Chris break down what telehealth really is, who it works for, when it doesn't, and why it can still be highly effective when the right approach is used. They explain why movement-based care, detailed symptom analysis, and patient education can make virtual treatment surprisingly successful for people all over the world.

They also cover the biggest pros and cons of telehealth, what you need to make it work, and why convenience, access, and expert guidance can sometimes matter more than being in the room. 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.

In this episode of The Spinal Truth Podcast, Dr. Caleb Slater break down what actually keeps you healthy — and what might be a waste of your time and money.

From walking after meals and hydration habits to supplements, red light therapy, grounding mats, and sleep routines, they separate practical health strategies from trendy gimmicks.

If you're tired of overcomplicating fitness and wellness, this episode gives you simple, actionable habits that make a real difference.

Topics include: • Walking after meals and blood sugar control • Protein, fiber, and vitamin D • Supplements that may not be worth it • Sleep hacks that actually work • Spine mobility essentials • Sauna, cold exposure, and recovery • Oral hygiene and heart health

Less noise. More results.

👉 Visit TheSpinalTruth.com for courses and consultations.

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

Matty was two weeks away from a total hip replacement.

Two surgeons told him he was the "perfect candidate." Imaging showed degeneration. Bone spurs. Impingement. The surgery was scheduled.

Then he started having nerve pain down his leg.

In this episode, Matty shares how he cancelled his hip replacement after discovering the real issue wasn't just his hip — it was coming from his spine.

We break down:

• Why radiating leg pain is almost always a nerve issue

• Why imaging can be misleading

• The difference between joint pain and nerve pain

• Why most PT programs miss the real problem

• How focused spine treatment led to 85% improvement

• Why some hip replacements fail

• When surgery does make sense

This isn't anti-surgery. Hip replacements can be incredibly successful. But if nerve pain is involved, you may be chasing the wrong problem.

If you've been told you need a hip replacement — this conversation could change everything.

🔗 Learn more at TheSpinalTruth.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

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

Hand numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed problems in healthcare — and it's usually blamed on carpal tunnel.

In this episode, Dr. Caleb Slater and Chris break down why hand symptoms are far more often coming from the neck and upper spine, not the wrist — and why standard treatments frequently fail.

Topics covered include:

• Why carpal tunnel is severely overdiagnosed

• The difference between true carpal tunnel and nerve compression from the neck

• Why symptoms that are bilateral, inconsistent, or move around point away from the wrist

• What it means if your pinky finger is involved

• Why splints, injections, nerve glides, and wrist-focused PT often don't work

• Why symptoms are worse at night and in the morning

• The role posture, phones, and sedentary lifestyles play

• What actually helps reduce nerve pressure long-term

• Simple daily movements that matter more than "perfect posture"

This conversation isn't about ignoring real wrist conditions — it's about understanding when you're chasing the wrong problem and why treating the spine first often leads to lasting relief.

🎧 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 of The Spinal Truth, Dr. Caleb Slater tackles one of the most overlooked and misunderstood procedures in orthopedics—foot surgery. From bunions to plantar fasciitis to fusions and neuromas, thousands of people are getting surgery on their feet every year… and still walking away in pain. Dr. Slater explains why most of these procedures don't address the root cause and what to consider before agreeing to go under the knife.

We cover:

• Why foot surgeries often fail to relieve pain

• The misdiagnosis loop (plantar fasciitis vs nerve referral)

• Why surgery may relieve pressure—but not the cause

• The connection between the lower spine, nerves, and foot pain

• What real recovery looks like—and how to actually get better

• Why orthotics and cortisone may delay true healing

👉 If you've been told you need foot surgery, or you had it and still have pain—this episode is a must-listen.

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, 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.