The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson

The Back Doctors podcast is weekly conversations with doctors from around the world sharing patient stories as they inform, educate, and offer hope for the millions of people who have back pain.

325 Dr. Edgardo Vargas - Neck Pain and Headaches 06/01/2026

324 Dr. Christine Goertz - "Take Your Back Back" 05/25/2026

324 Dr. Christine Goertz - "Take Your Back Back" Spine Health Researcher, Clinician, and Professor, Dr. Christine Goertz shares her life's work in her new book Take Your Back Back. RESEARCH & HEALTH POLICY CAREER I’m Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D. I have spent 35 years working with multi-disciplinary teams to conduct research studies and implement best practices designed to optimize care for patients with low back pain. CURRENT ROLE I am a Professor in Musculoskeletal Research at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Vice Chair for the Implementation of Spine Health Innovation in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University. I am also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN I received my Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 1991 and a Ph.D. in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in 1999. ACCOMPLISHMENTS I have extensive experience in the administration of Federal grants, both as a PI and as a program official at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I have received nearly $45 million in federal funding, as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator, primarily from NIH and the Department of Defense. I have also co-authored more than 135 peer-reviewed scientific papers. MAKING A GLOBAL IMPACT I am honored to have delivered invited lectures, keynote talks, clinical grand rounds, and plenary presentations worldwide. Topics include "Research, Its Not Just for Scientists Anymore," "In Search of the Holy Grail in Low Back Pain Treatment or Anything that Works at All," and " Nonpharmacological Approaches to Pain Management." Venues include the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Annual Meeting, Georgetown University, Duke University School of Medicine, the American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting, the American Chiropractic Association Summit, the World Federation of Chiropractic Research Congress, and the European Chiropractic Union. Resources: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/41288505

323 Dr. Casey Johnston - Degenerative Spondylolisthesis 05/18/2026

323 Dr. Casey Johnston - Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Spine specialist, Dr. Casey Johnston shares an interesting case of a 58 y.o. triathlete with severe back and leg pain. Dr. Casey Johnston, D.C. is the owner and Clinical Director for Desert Springs Chiropractic. He has been in full time private practice since 2001. He is an alumnus of Oklahoma State University and Texas Chiropractic College. Prior to his work at DSCC, he worked as the Lead Chiropractor for multi clinic medical organization in Houston, Texas. During his tenure he trained and established chiropractic and rehabilitation protocols for the Chiropractic, Physical Medicine and Physical Therapy Departments for the various clinics. Dedicated to continually offering the most cutting-edge care, Dr. Johnston consistently trains in new and advanced techniques. Using the most advanced research, Desert Springs offers a dynamic system for assessing and reassessing each patient as an individual. Designing individualized care for each person and their individual needs is our number one priority. Taking time to fully understand each patient’s unique situation has often provided success in complicated cases when medicine, physical therapy, surgery and even other chiropractors have been unable to help. Dr. Johnston and our staff use Gonstead Chiropractic corrective adjustments, coupled with Titleist Performance Institute (analysis, strength and conditioning) rehab protocols to build an individualized and effective plan of action for our patients. Dr. Johnston employs both hands-on and/or low force mechanical adjusting techniques depending on the individual patients needs and requests. Dr. J, as he is often called, has significant experience with over 18 years working with injuries to the spinal discs (herniations, bulges, degenerative discs, sciatica, etc.). After injuring his own L5/S1 disc, he developed protocols to help others recover based on his personal experience and success. He often employs Cox Flexion/Distraction (using the Cox 8 table/instrument), decompression, ELDOA and the McKenzie method for disc conditions. Often, we work in combination with primary care physicians, pain management doctors and/or surgeons to achieve the best results for our patients. Resources: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/41288430

322 Dr. Njudeka Olatunde - Reflexology 05/11/2026

321 Dr. Austin McGraw - Back Pain and Sciatica 05/04/2026

320 Dr. John Murray - Post Surgical Continued Spine Pain 04/27/2026

319 Dr. Nameer Haider - Combining Minimally Invasive Surgery, Neuromodulation, and Regenerative Medicine 04/20/2026

319 Dr. Nameer Haider - Combining Minimally Invasive Surgery, Neuromodulation, and Regenerative Medicine On this episode, Dr. Nameer Haider shares with us various minimally invasive surgical procedures that he utilizes as well as combining these surgeries with neuromodulation and regenerative medicine. Dr. Nameer R. Haider MD,FAAPM&R,DABPM For more than twenty years, Dr. Nameer R. Haider has built his career around a simple but profound belief: people living with chronic pain deserve more than temporary relief — they deserve their lives back. That belief has carried him from medical school in Pakistan to operating rooms and innovation labs across the United States, shaping him into one of the most respected voices in spinal and skeletal pain treatment. Dr. Haider’s journey began at King Edward Medical University, where he graduated with honors before moving to the United States to pursue surgical training. Those early years — a surgical internship in North Carolina, a demanding residency in New York, and a chief residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine exposed him to patients whose lives had been narrowed by pain. Many had tried everything. Many had been told to “learn to live with it.” He refused to accept that. He went on to complete a fellowship in interventional pain management, immersing himself in the emerging science of minimally invasive techniques. Over time, he became known not just for his technical skill, but for his willingness to sit with patients who felt forgotten by the system — people who had spent years searching for answers that never came. Today, Dr. Haider is triple-board-certified and serves in leadership roles across several respected institutions, including as chairman of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Faxton–St. Luke’s Healthcare and fellowship training director at the Minimally Invasive Pain Institute. But titles alone don’t capture the heart of his work. What sets him apart is the way he bridges disciplines — surgery, rehabilitation, neuromodulation, and pain medicine — to create solutions for people who have run out of options. His patients often arrive exhausted, discouraged, and skeptical. They leave with something they haven’t felt in years: possibility. As Chief Innovation Officer at SynerFuse, Dr. Haider is helping to redefine what’s possible for chronic lower-back-pain treatment. His work focuses on a patent-protected approach that combines spinal fusion with direct nerve stimulation — a method designed to address the very limitations that have kept so many patients trapped in cycles of failed surgeries and recurring pain. It’s a convergence of rigorous science and deep empathy, shaped by decades of listening to people who felt unseen. Colleagues describe him as a surgeon who never stops asking, “What else can we do?” Patients describe him as someone who finally understood what they were going through. And in a healthcare landscape where chronic pain is often treated as an afterthought, Dr. Haider has become a voice pushing the field forward — insisting that innovation must be measured not just in technology, but in the lives it restores. For individuals who have tried every conservative therapy, every injection, every medication, and still find themselves stuck, Dr. Haider represents something rare: a clinician-innovator who sees both the barriers in the system and the human beings behind them. His work continues to shape a future where chronic pain is not a life sentence, but a challenge medicine is finally prepared to meet. Resources: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/40922215

318 Dr. Andrew Serlin - Degenerative Disc Disease and Stenosis 04/06/2026

318 Dr. Andrew Serlin - Degenerative Disc Disease and Stenosis Dr. Andrew Serlin shares his experience treating a patient with degenerative disc disease and stenosis that is so prevalent in today's aging population. Andrew B. Serlin, DC/LMT/JD DC Instructor and Clinician – NUHS Whole Health Center, Lombard After practicing chiropractic medicine for 13 years, Dr. Serlin started working at the NUHS Whole Health Center as a floating clinician in 2018, and as a full-time attending clinician since 2019. He also serves as a faculty advisor for the NUHS Tai Chi & Qi Gong student club. Before becoming a chiropractic physician, he worked as an attorney in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office from 1990 to 1997 and operated a law office in the Pilsen neighborhood from 1997 to 2000. He also became a Chair-Qualified Arbitrator for the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration program in 1997 and continues to arbitrate in that program today. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences, his Juris Doctor from University of Illinois Law School in Champaign and his bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also licensed in acupuncture and graduated valedictorian of the NUHS Massage Therapy program in 2021. Outside of NUHS, Dr. Serlin volunteers with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) since 2000 in the roles of Coach, Intermediate Referee, Coach Instructor, Safety Director, Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate and member of the Deerfield AYSO Region #1007 Board of Directors. He has also practiced Martial Arts since 1983 (Shorin-Ryu Karate, Kung Fu and Tai Chi). He currently teaches Tai Chi/QiGong at the Presbyterian Homes in Lake Forest in a skilled nursing setting and a memory care unit and at the Levy Senior Center in Evanston. These roles have allowed Dr. Serlin the opportunity to teach in some capacity the ages of 3-106. “I enjoy the opportunity to teach and share information with many different groups of people. I enjoy learning about life from the perspective that they share with me,” he said. “I find much gratification in sharing my knowledge and life experiences in return. It has been my observation that the more I teach my students, the more I learn and grow myself.” Education: DC Instructor and Clinician – NUHS Whole Health Center, Lombard BA, University of Wisconsin, 1986 JD, University of Illinois – College of Law, 1989 DC, National University of Health Sciences, 2005 Resources: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/40737775

317 Dr. Adam Propper - Why Cox® Technic 03/31/2026

316 Dr. James Kirk - Synovial Cysts and Foot Drop 03/09/2026

315 Dr. Kurt Olding - Spine Research Relevant to You 02/23/2026

314 Dr. Joel Dixon - Disc Extrusion 02/16/2026

314 Dr. Joel Dixon - Disc Extrusion Dr. Joel Dixon joins us from Australia to share the story of a man who had been advised to undergo back surgery but instead chose a non‑surgical treatment that ultimately relieved his pain. Dr Joel Dixon Chiropractor and Cox® Certified Practitioner B.APP.SC (CHIRO)J.P. Graduating from RMIT School of Chiropractic in 1986, Dr Dixon has concentrated his professional development in spinal disc decompression therapies since becoming certified in Cox® Technic in 2000. He is the only Cox® certified instructor in Australia. Cox® therapy is considered to be the “gold standard” used by thousands of Chiropractors around the world for the treatment of low back and leg pain, neck and arm pain, and other spinal pain conditions. Cox® flexion distraction has more than 50 years of research, documentation, and proven outcomes for decompressing spinal nerves and treating low back pain. It’s a gentle, non-surgical, low-force procedure that helps the spine heal properly and keeps it as pain free as possible. Dr. Dixon has a specific interest in treatment for disc bulge and disc herniation, sciatica, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis, amongst other conditions. He has treated thousands of patients with varying degrees of spinal disc pathology requiring non-surgical, conservative treatment using the latest Cox® 8 decompression instruments from Michigan USA. Dr. Dixon has supported athletes from a range of organizations including Sydney Swans and NBL clubs, South Dragons and Gold Coast Blaze. He also has had an extensive background in obstetrical spinal disorders and has been registered at two private hospitals providing in house spinal therapy. Dr. Dixon’s continuous professional development in both the USA and Australia enables him to bring the most up to date research, technology and techniques to every consultation enabling rapid symptom resolution and the return to full spinal function as quickly as possible. In 2024 Dr. Dixon became fully certified to provide Concussion Baseline Testing and Concussion Treatment. Both of these services are available at the clinic utilizing Complete Concussions (CCMI), which is comprehensive, worldwide testing and treatment protocol for concussion. Dr. Dixon practices at Malvern Chiropractic Clinic and Melbourne Spine Clinic. Resources: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/40080955

313 Dr. Steven Baroody - Neck Pain and Headache treated with Cox® Technic 02/10/2026

312 Dr. Clint Dickason - Compression Fractures 01/05/2026

311 Dr. Fawad Mian - Regenerative Medicine for Pain 12/22/2025

310 Dr. Nate McKee - Tandem Stenosis 12/08/2025

309 Dr. Timothy Gagan - Bertolotti Syndrome 12/01/2025

308 Dr. Steven Falowski - SynerFuse 11/24/2025

308 Dr. Steven Falowski - SynerFuse Dr. Steven Falowski shares an exciting new development in spine surgery that combines the two therapy modalities of spinal fusion and neuromodulation into a single solution implanted simultaneously at the point of a spinal fusion procedure. Steven M. Falowski MD Board Certified Functional Neurosurgeon Director Functional Neurosurgery Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster PA President -Executive Pain Committee, Congress Neurological Surgeons/American Association Neurological Surgeons President- Pennsylvania Pain Society President- Elect- American Society Pain and Neuroscience Strategic Advisor - SynerFuse® ... a Minnesota-based medical device company innovating the spine industry with its integrated approach to spinal fusion and chronic pain Senior Advisor- Pacific Spine and Pain Society Past Board of Directors, International Neuromodulation Society Past Senior Advisor, Past Secretary-North American Neuromodulation Society Dr. Falowski underwent his neurosurgical residency training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia with a focus on Spinal Cord Stimulation and Pain management, complex spinal procedures, and treatment for movement disorders such as deep brain stimulation. He completed a functional neurosurgical fellowship at Rush University in Chicago. His practice specializes in neuromodulation and spinal procedures. He is board certified in Neurosurgery. His major focus in society and industry revolves around education, integration of specialties, research, and practice management. He is the course director for cadaver workshops and educational offerings across multiple societies. He collaborates with numerous companies and industry partners on product development, education, research, and strategy. Dr. Falowski is involved in numerous clinical research studies and novel developments for spinal cord stimulation, pain management, and spinal procedures. The patented SynerFuse® procedure, Electric Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion™ (e-TLIF™), combines fusion with direct nerve stimulation to address chronic low back and leg pain that is unaddressed in traditional spinal fusion surgery that provide Ultra Low Energy™ (ULE™) Therapy. Resources: Sponsor: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/39131645

307 Dr. Kurt Olding - Primary Spine Care Model 11/17/2025

306 - Christi Thompson - StretchLab 11/10/2025

306 - Christi Thompson - StretchLab Christi Thompson from StretchLab shares a story of a nurse who gets back pain relief from one-on-one assisted stretching. Christi Thompson Master Instructor | Area Education Manager | Member, Master Trainer Advisory Council 2025 Christi Thompson is a dedicated Master Instructor at StretchLab and a member of the 2025 Master Trainer Advisory Council. Since joining the StretchLab team in 2019 as a Flexologist in Dilworth (Charlotte, NC), Christi has demonstrated a clear trajectory of growth—progressing to Lead Flexologist in Fort Mill, SC, and achieving the title of Master Instructor in 2022. She currently serves as the Area Education Manager for her local franchise, where she oversees the onboarding and continued education of Flexologists, equipping them with the skills and support necessary to thrive in their roles. Christi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Delaware and a Master’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her academic research focused on functional fatigue and its impact on body mechanics and injury risk. Clinically, she has worked with top-tier Division I athletics programs at UNC-Chapel Hill, including baseball and field hockey. After graduate school, she continued her career at Raleigh Orthopedic’s Athletic Performance Center, where she worked with professional and youth athletes, including those affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes NHL team. Before joining StretchLab, Christi also spent time as a high school teacher in biology and earth and environmental science. She earned her teaching certificate from North Carolina State University, where she studied teaching theory and psychology—skills she applies daily in her current leadership and education roles. Outside of her professional life, Christi is passionate about horseback riding and ultramarathon running. Having grown up in an equestrian household, she has been riding since childhood and currently leases and cares for a quarter horse named Luna. Christi is also a committed endurance athlete, with several ultramarathon finishes—including 50K and 50-mile distances—and plans to pursue 100K and 100-mile races. She values the mental resilience, strategic training, and love of the outdoors that the sport fosters. Resources: Christi Thompson | Area Education Manager - StretchLab Charlotte & Columbia C: 302.530.0321 - call or text W: Show sponsor: /episode/index/show/thebackdoctorspodcast/id/38968060