Change Your Brain Every Day "Everything You Know About Back Pain Is Wrong" – Dr. Jared Ament
Mar 9, 2026
Dr. Jared Ament, a board-certified neurosurgeon who champions motion-preserving spine care, debunks common back pain myths. He discusses why fusion became routine and its downsides. He explores artificial disc and motion-preserving alternatives, when injections and rehab help, how to tell brain-mediated versus structural pain, and practical ways to protect your spine long term.
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Treat The Patient Not The MRI
- Imaging findings alone often don't correlate with pain; many pain-free people have degenerative MRIs.
- A study noted ~70% of people Daniel's age show degenerative changes yet report no pain, so treat the patient not the picture.
Turning Down Fusion Led To Successful Conservative Rehab
- Tana described declining a fusion recommendation and using an epidural plus Pilates to regain function over 18 months.
- Her core rebuilding and conservative care let her avoid immediate fusion despite 'bone on bone' findings.
Use Injections To Enable Rehab Not Replace It
- Use injections strategically to reduce inflammation and enable rehab, not as a long-term crutch.
- Ament says injections can buy time to do Pilates and core rebuilding if the spine is structurally safe.
