Episode Summary: "Everything You Know About Back Pain Is Wrong"

Change Your Brain Every Day
Hosts: Dr. Daniel Amen & Tana Amen
Guest: Dr. Jared Ament ("The Anti-Fusion Doctor")
Date: March 9, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen explore the landscape of back pain, debunking persistent myths and illuminating cutting-edge alternatives to traditional spinal fusion surgery with acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr. Jared Ament. The conversation delves into why most back surgeries are outdated, how artificial disc and facet replacements are changing lives, the interplay between chronic pain and brain health, holistic approaches to spine care, and the courage required to challenge medical orthodoxy. This episode is vital listening for anyone struggling with spinal issues, medical professionals, or those simply interested in the crossroads of brain and body health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Problem with Traditional Spine Surgery

• Overuse of Spinal Fusion

  • Dr. Ament criticizes the widespread practice of spinal fusion, likening it to outdated treatments for hips and knees:

    "Forty years ago, when you had a bad hip or a bad knee, they put a rod through the knee, they put a rod through the hip, that joint is no longer functional. Why we're still doing that to the spine, to me, is asinine."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [00:00]

• Analogy of Shock Absorbers

  • Removing movement from one segment stresses others, much like fixing a car’s shock absorber with duct tape:

    "You create abnormal stresses above and below it. And that's what propagates the problem."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [09:48]

• Adjacent Segment Disease

  • Fusions commonly lead to degeneration of vertebral segments above or below the surgical site.

    "When you have instability, you fuse. In this case, an artificial facet replacement allows us to decompress all the nerves, give people their mobility back without fusion."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [12:49]

2. Motion Preservation: The Modern Approach

• Artificial Discs & Facet Replacements

  • Dr. Ament’s approach prioritizes preserving spinal motion using cutting-edge artificial discs and facet replacements (e.g., the TOPS procedure).

    "You can put in a new disc that functions like a mechanical joint, almost exactly like a knee or a hip replacement."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [10:36]

• FDA Trials & Long-Term Results

  • Dr. Ament leads clinical studies on next-gen motion preservation, noting successful, durable outcomes:

    "I have the luxury of seeing patients with seven or eight years of follow up where this has really only been in the US for about two years. And it's incredible what these new technologies are now doing for people..."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [11:26]

3. The Reality of Back Pain

• Pain Is Not Just Physical

  • Chronic back pain affects all areas of life — mood, work, relationships, and mental health.

    "The misconception is that you're in a silo and it's just back pain, but usually it affects much more than that."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [18:02]

• Imaging vs. Symptoms

  • Many with severe MRI findings have no symptoms, and vice versa — medical imaging must not dictate treatment alone.

    "Don't treat the picture, treat the patient... More surgery is being done than is necessary."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [08:53]

4. Conservative Approaches, Misconceptions, and Advice

• Core Strength Over Quick Fixes

  • Building core muscle support (especially deep spinal muscles, not just the visible 'abs') is critical to spinal health.

    "People think that means going to the gym and doing a bunch of crunches, right? That's not true. ... It's the musculature, like the multifidus, longissimus, QLs, the muscles around the spine."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [32:17]

• Pilates, Compound Movements, & Holistic Exercise

  • Dr. Ament extols Pilates and functional/compound exercises as superior for back health and preventing/recovering from injury.

    "That's why I put people to Pilates, because it's one of those things that really works on core..."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [33:05]

• Stem Cells & Regenerative Hype

  • Patient anecdotes and Dr. Ament’s experience show promise remains limited and sometimes risky.

    "Stem cell technology is coming... it's just not here yet to the level we want... I've seen people that have had some interesting relief... but we just don't know what they do."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [29:52]

5. The Mind-Body Connection: Brain, Emotions, and Chronic Pain

• Bi-directional Impact of Pain & Brain Health

  • Prolonged pain increases cortisol, reduces BDNF, accelerates neurodegeneration, and affects emotional well-being:

    "Prolonged elevated cortisol levels... reduction in brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)... causes structural deterioration."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [36:40]

• Psychological Interventions & The Sarno Debate

  • Dr. Amen and the panel recognize “repressed rage” and stress exacerbate pain, but highlight the importance of personalized care:

    "I think you have to be careful because those studies... didn't look at motion preservation technology... But there are situations where you can have an okay-looking spine, but the pain is out of proportion and that a lot of that is brain health, brain mediated..."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [21:46]

• Emotional Effects of Chronic Pain

  • Pain leads to depression, loss of identity, and social withdrawal; restoring function is Dr. Ament’s core goal:

    "Adaptations can be good. They can also be extremely depressing... My goal is trying to make people more aware so there's better choices so that you don't have to adapt so much..."
    — Dr. Jared Ament [16:39]

6. Systemic Issues & Professional Resistance

• Insurance & System Incentives

  • Innovative, evidence-based procedures are often dismissed as "experimental," despite strong data, while outdated fusions remain well reimbursed.

    “You guys are calling this experimental, but you'll let me fuse a person's entire spine together and pay for that?...”
    — Dr. Jared Ament [50:03]

• Medical Innovation & Cultural Hurdles

  • Pioneers like Dr. Ament face skepticism (and sometimes hostility) from peers:

    “They think I am absolutely crazy... I was a little emotional because Pat Johnson...actually applaud[ed] me for what I’m doing. But it also showed something—that there's this disconnect between what you’re trying to accomplish and what the convention is...”
    — Dr. Jared Ament [44:01-45:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Innovation and Courage

  "If you truly believe in it, you’re doing it ethically, you’re doing it the right way, you want to do right by people... just understand... you’re absolutely going to be a target. And that’s normal."
  — Dr. Jared Ament [46:21]

• On Scientific Paradigm Shifts

  "Stage five is the most consistent of all the stages. It’s rejection and it's brutal... progress happens through funerals... the new generation grows up wanting something more effective."
  — Tana Amen (describing Thomas Kuhn’s theory) [47:23]

• On Patient Stories & Meaning

  "The only thanks I ever would love to receive would be a picture of you doing something incredibly active or whatever it is that gives you that feeling you had... and it's true. Because that, to me, is the greatest joy of what we're doing."
  — Dr. Jared Ament [17:09]

Actionable Advice & Practical Tips

• If Back Pain Isn’t Dangerous:

  • Focus on conservative strategies: core-strengthening, Pilates, functional compound exercises, anti-inflammatory diet, quality sleep, stress management.
  • Consider epidural injections or brief pain masking techniques only to facilitate rehabilitation—not as a permanent fix.

• If Neurologic Symptoms Appear:

  • Prompt assessment for surgery may be warranted if you experience loss of function (e.g., foot drop, incontinence).

• Do Your Homework Before Surgery:

  "Know there are other options. And sometimes there are better options that just aren’t as accepted for a variety of reasons."
  — Dr. Jared Ament [50:03]

• Holistic Health:

  • Eat anti-inflammatory foods (limit processed foods), regulate stress, protect and train your spine as early as possible—even if you "look fit" outwardly.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] - Critique of Traditional Spinal Fusion
• [08:53] - “Don’t Treat the Picture, Treat the Patient”
• [10:36] - Artificial Disc Replacement Explained
• [16:19] - The Emotional Toll of Back Pain
• [18:02] - Biggest Misconceptions About Back Pain
• [21:21] - Brain’s Role in Chronic Pain
• [29:52] - Stem Cells, Exosomes, and Regenerative Hype
• [32:17] - True Core Training for Spinal Health
• [36:40] - Cortisol, BDNF, and Neurodegeneration
• [44:01] - Culture Clash: Innovation vs. Tradition
• [47:23] - Scientific Revolutions and Professional Backlash
• [50:03] - Patient Empowerment and Insurance Frustrations

Where to Learn More

• Dr. Jared Ament: nsg-la.com, Instagram: @Dr.JaredAment
• Amen Clinics Info: amenclinics.com
• Tana Amen’s Book: "Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain" — strategies for both brain and body healing.