You’ve heard it before: “Your MRI looks fine.”
But if the scan is normal, why are you still in pain?

In this episode of Talking Rehab, Dr. Fred Bagares unpacks why imaging often fails to tell the whole story, the four critical gaps in musculoskeletal care, and how to find real answers when “normal” results don’t match your lived experience. Through the story of a nurse carrying two years of “normal” test results and daily pain, you’ll discover a better framework for navigating your recovery — one built on answers, personalization, trust, and long-term coaching.

Timestamps

[00:00] The problem with “everything looks normal”
[01:00] Imaging shows structure, not function — why that matters
[02:30] Patient story: A nurse’s two-year journey of normal results and daily pain
[04:00] The 4 critical gaps in musculoskeletal care
• Gap 1: Structure vs. function
• Gap 2: The time trap
• Gap 3: The single-visit solution
• Gap 4: The cookie-cutter approach
[07:00] Building a real partnership: personalized care and long-term guidance
[09:00] The 4 Pillars of Comprehensive MSK Care
1. Answers when imaging isn’t enough
2. Personalized treatment protocols
3. Long-term physician relationships
4. Guidance as your rehab coach
[12:00] How to ask better questions and demand better answers
[13:00] Closing reflection: You’re more than a set of images

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Most people assume that when your MRI shows a meniscus tear, surgery is the only answer. But here’s the surprising truth: the most common surgery for meniscus tears can actually speed up arthritis.

In this episode, Dr. Fred Bagares unpacks the real decision point: not whether the meniscus is torn, but whether surgery is the right choice for you. Through two real patient stories, the latest research, and practical frameworks, he breaks down the long-term trade-offs between surgery, repair, and structured rehabilitation.

If you’ve ever stared at your MRI report and thought, “When’s my surgery?”—this conversation will change how you see your options.

🕰 Timestamps + Key Themes

[00:00] The Counterintuitive Truth
Why the most common meniscus surgery may actually accelerate arthritis.

[02:00] The Patient Mindset
How MRIs and fear drive people to assume surgery is inevitable.

[03:00] Two Case Studies: Mark & Sarah
Same tear, different choices—how their paths diverged.

[05:00] The Numbers Behind Arthritis Progression
What studies reveal about meniscectomy, repair, and non-operative care.

[07:00] Recovery Timelines Explained
Surgery, repair, and rehab—what each path really looks like.

[08:00] Short Runway vs. Long Horizon
How your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance shape the right choice.

[09:00] The Three Critical Questions
Mechanical symptoms, real rehab, and your honest timeline.

[10:00] Metaphors That Make It Clear
Your knee as a house foundation, or a shoe midsole—why mechanics matter.

[11:30] The Reframe: Surgery as a Tool, Not a Default
When it makes sense—and when it doesn’t.

[13:00] Three Questions for You
A self-reflection framework to guide your decision.

[14:00] Closing Takeaway
Don’t let urgency or an MRI dictate your path—clarity comes from asking what outcome you value most.

👉 If this episode challenged the way you think about recovery, hit subscribe and share it with someone facing a knee decision. For same-day clarity on your own MRI or knee pain, visit fredbagares.com.

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What if your biggest breakthrough in recovery isn’t eliminating pain, but learning how to keep it from getting worse?

In this episode of The Talking Rehab Podcast, Dr. Fred Bagares reframes one of the most overlooked wins in rehabilitation: baseline control. He shares why stability is not settling, but actually the foundation for lowering pain later—and how patients who master it often achieve better long-term outcomes than those chasing quick fixes.

Through Maria’s story—a nurse whose daily pain spikes used to derail her life—you’ll see how controlling the climb from a 4 to a 9 was the first step to regaining her evenings, her energy, and her freedom.

You’ll also hear why the “scoreboard mindset” of obsessing over pain numbers can sabotage progress, and how neuroscience, psychology, and everyday analogies—from marathon training to money management—support a different way forward.

🕰 Timestamps & Key Themes:
[00:00] The counterintuitive breakthrough: controlling vs. eliminating pain
[02:00] Why pain numbers (like the scoreboard) don’t measure real progress
[03:00] Maria’s story: from daily crashes to evening stability
[05:00] Two wins of recovery: baseline control and baseline reduction
[07:00] Neuroscience & psychology: why consistency calms the system
[08:00] Real-life markers of success beyond the pain scale
[09:00] The cultural blind spot: why stability feels “boring” but changes everything
[10:00] A new definition of healing: adding predictability, trust, and freedom

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What happens when patients consult ChatGPT before they see a doctor—and the physician becomes the third opinion in the room? In this episode, Dr. Fred Bagares breaks down the new hierarchy of medical advice, why most doctors are reacting to it the wrong way, and how AI can actually become the physician’s greatest ally.

Rather than fighting “Dr. Google 2.0,” the future belongs to clinicians who learn to interpret, contextualize, and personalize AI-driven information for their patients. You’ll hear why being a curator, not a gatekeeper is the next competitive advantage in medicine—and how to make that shift now.

⏱️ Episode Guide

• [00:00] The new hierarchy of medical advice: why physicians are now the third opinion
• [01:00] A patient’s journey: from ChatGPT → self-editing → biased question for the doctor
• [02:30] The five major failure points in this system—and why they distort care
• [05:00] Why physicians should celebrate, not fear, AI in the consultation room
• [06:00] Three tactics for turning AI into your competitive advantage
  1. Embrace the AI consultation
  2. Become the patient’s “prompt engineer”
  3. Address selection bias directly
• [08:00] Example: shoulder pain, ChatGPT vs. physician personalization
• [09:00] The uncomfortable truth: most doctors are replaceable—unless they reframe their value
• [10:00] Lessons from travel agents and Expedia: adapt or become irrelevant
• [11:00] Advice for patients: how to use ChatGPT wisely before seeing your physician
• [12:00] The big shift: from knowledge gatekeeping → to personalization and context
• [13:00] Closing thoughts: why the future is not physician vs. AI, but physician + AI

CTA:
If this episode made you rethink your role in recovery—or your relationship with technology in healthcare—hit subscribe and share it with a colleague or friend. And if you’re ready for clarity in your own care, visit MSK Direct to schedule a same-day consultation.

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When you walk into an orthopedic clinic, are you getting a one-size-fits-all protocol or a treatment plan designed specifically for you?

In this episode of The Talking Rehab Podcast, Dr. Fred Bagares shares the real story of a patient who chose an insurance-covered orthopedic visit over direct care—and what happened next. Using the analogy of an off-the-rack suit versus a tailored fit, Dr. Bagares breaks down the hidden differences between the insurance-based model and a personalized, direct care approach.

You’ll learn:
• How insurance companies decide what treatments they’ll approve—and why it’s not always about evidence or outcomes
• What a typical insurance-based orthopedic visit looks like from start to finish
• How a customized evaluation with tools like real-time ultrasound can uncover the true source of pain
• Why the hidden cost of “free” care is often lost time, delayed recovery, and missed diagnoses
• Questions to ask yourself before choosing between coverage and clarity

If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling like your treatment plan could’ve been copy-pasted from the last patient, this episode will help you see your options differently.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe so you never miss an episode that challenges conventional wisdom about orthopedic care and recovery.

Keywords: personalized orthopedic care, direct care vs insurance, orthopedic diagnosis clarity, real-time ultrasound evaluation, musculoskeletal treatment plans, patient-centered orthopedic care, insurance denial of standard of care, tailored rehabilitation plan

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📍 Episode Description:
In this episode of The Talking Rehab Podcast, Dr. Fred Bagares invites you to stop dismissing your excuses—and start listening to them. Drawing from the story of a patient named Sarah, he unpacks how our most convincing reasons for inaction often hide something deeper: fear, identity wounds, and unconscious memories. This isn’t about guilt-tripping. It’s about reclaiming ownership of your body and recovery.

You’ll hear why people avoid doing the very things that would help them heal, and how to shift from self-protection to progress. With real-life examples, a powerful mental reframe, and a practical 3-step system for taking back control, this episode challenges the way we think about pain, progress, and personal agency.

If you’ve ever said “I don’t have time,” “It still hurts,” or “I’m just not ready”—this one’s for you.

🕰️ Key Timestamps + Themes:

[00:00] The Silence After the Excuse
A pivotal patient moment where excuses stop—and the real fear surfaces.

[01:00] Why Excuses Aren’t Lies
How logistics mask deeper emotional truths—and what to do with them.

[02:00] Sarah’s Story: Shoulder Pain & Childhood Memories
A case study of avoidance rooted in a 12-year-old’s trauma.

[03:00] Golf, Renovations, and Priorities
Reframing contradiction as insight into what we truly value.

[04:00] Who’s in Charge of Your Recovery?
The power of asking: is your fear, past, or circumstance in the driver’s seat?

[05:00] The 3-Step Ownership Shift
Step 1: Accept the discomfort.
Step 2: Reclaim your authority.
Step 3: Let everything else be consultants—not decision-makers.

[06:00] What Changes When You’re Back in Charge
Fear shifts tone, excuses shift form, your body starts to trust again.

[07:00] Marcus: The Construction Worker’s Breakthrough
A second case study that proves discomfort doesn’t have to mean defeat.

[08:00] The New Relationship with Pain and Fear
When you listen—but don’t obey—your excuses, everything transforms.

[09:00] The Reframe: Excuses as Feedback, Not Failures
Instead of asking how to eliminate them, ask what they’re really saying.

[10:00] Final Message
“Your excuses are the weather. You are still the one who chooses to step outside.”

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[00:00] The Bike Metaphor: Wisdom from a 7-Year-Old
Why pedaling through the wobbles is a perfect analogy for rehab—and what most adults forget about momentum.

[01:20] The Common Mistake: Stop When It Feels Better
Dr. Bagares shares a scenario he sees daily: back pain, ibuprofen, rest… and relapse.

[02:15] The “Stop-and-Go” Epidemic
Why short-term fixes and pain-based decisions lead to long-term frustration.

[02:55] Michelle’s Story: From Chronic Heel Pain to Half Marathon
How one patient broke the loop by committing to rehab after the pain was gone.

[04:00] Pain Is a Lousy GPS
Learn why pain lingers after healing—or disappears too soon—and what metrics are actually useful.

[05:00] The Tennis Example: Two Paths, One Outcome?
Dr. Bagares walks through two ways to return after injury—one quick, one comprehensive—and the hidden risks of the “fast track.”

[06:00] Momentum > Perfection
Why waiting for 100% readiness stalls progress—and what to do instead.

[07:00] Redefining “Better”
It's not about stronger or faster—it's about trust, awareness, and response. Momentum builds that.

[08:00] From Rehab to Resilience: What to Do Now
Dr. Bagares gives a personal challenge: What's one small move you can make this week, even if it’s not perfect?

[09:30] Final Takeaway: Momentum Compounds Like Interest
The earlier you start, the more it builds. The goal isn’t to recover—it’s to come back better.

🎧 Core Message:
Pain relief is not the finish line. Real progress begins after the pain fades. Keep pedaling.

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Are You Destroying Your Knees?
Why the fear of arthritis might be worse than running itself.

Episode Summary:
"Doc, I had to stop running. My knees are shot." If you've ever heard—or said—those words, this episode is for you. Today, Dr. Fred Bagares dismantles one of the most persistent myths in musculoskeletal medicine: that running ruins your knees. Spoiler: It doesn't. In fact, giving it up might be what’s really causing the damage.

We’ll explore real patient stories, misinterpreted imaging findings, misunderstood pain patterns, and the surprising science behind cartilage health. This one’s not just for runners—it’s for anyone who’s been scared into giving up movement they love.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] – "My knees are shot." — The myth that won’t die
[00:01:00] – Call to action: If you find this show helpful, please subscribe
[00:02:00] – Sarah's story: When stopping running made things worse
[00:03:00] – Exam findings: Normal aging ≠ joint destruction
[00:04:00] – The science: Running may protect, not destroy cartilage
[00:05:00] – What really causes joint degeneration? (Hint: it's not the running)
[00:06:00] – Real culprits: Poor mechanics, inactivity, fear-based advice
[00:07:00] – Reframing arthritis: Normal, not necessarily pathological
[00:08:00] – Training smarter: Mechanics > mileage
[00:09:00] – Strength and shock absorption: Your cartilage's best friends
[00:10:00] – Strategic recovery: When rest builds resilience
[00:11:00] – Sarah’s comeback: 53 years old and running strong
[00:12:00] – The bigger danger: Fear of damage vs. real health loss

What if the bigger risk isn't running... but giving up on it too soon? Don’t let outdated beliefs rob you of strength, joy, or vitality. Movement is medicine. Cartilage is living tissue. And you don’t have to choose between your knees and your life.

If this episode challenged your assumptions, helped you reframe your rehab journey, or gave you a new lens for working with your patients—please subscribe. It’s free, takes a second, and helps this show reach more people who need to hear this message. And if you’re a runner struggling with pain, don’t wait. Book a clarity visit at www.fredbagares.com and let’s build a smarter path forward.

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