Welcome to the latest episode of the Pain Free Living podcast with hosts Bob Allen (osteopath) and Clare Elsby (therapy coach).

Have you ever heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

If you said no, then this episode is for you, and even if you said yes, this episode is still worth your time, as it is such a huge subject that you might learn something new.

AI is such a broad subject that we have covered it in a three-part mini-series where we take you on a jargon-free tour of what AI is, where it came from, and why it matters in therapy coaching, and healthcare.

You’ll find out how early AI tools began in the 1950s with Alan Turing’s big question — “Can machines think?” — and how the first therapy chatbot appeared as early as the 1960s.

Bob explains why early medical AI struggled with real humans, why “if–then–else” decision trees failed, and how today’s systems rely on large language models rather than true reasoning.

Clare explores cyberchondria, covering the rise of health anxiety driven by people looking for their symptoms online and why context is essential when using AI for anything health-related.

You’ll also learn why using AI is not the same as asking Dr Google questions as it can “hallucinate,” when it doesn't know the answer. In addition, providing AI with vague prompts can make things worse, and we show you how to ask questions that produce safer, more reliable answers.

Don’t worry — getting to grips with AI isn’t about becoming technical; it’s about understanding how it works, what it can do, and why guardrails are important.

This episode sets the foundations. In part two, you’ll hear how AI compares to real therapy, why dependency can be a concern, and where AI can genuinely support wellbeing.

• AI is a prediction machine (think sophisticated autocorrect), it doesn’t know anything!
• Humans are very complex, and simple algorithms miss the bigger picture.
• Cyberchondria is increasing as people search for symptoms without context and accept AI answers.
• Good AI use depends on good prompting and detailed questions.
• AI can support therapy, but it cannot replace human care.

CBT explained (NHS): https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/

Region Beta Paradox — Pain Free Living Podcast episode: https://youtu.be/gDCOHiP5EQY

Safe AI use & prompt engineering (UK Gov): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-insights/ai-insights-prompt-engineering-html

Cyberchondria & AI-driven health anxiety: https://ioaglobal.org/events/artificial-intelligence-saviour-of-the-nhs-or-a-hypochondriacs-best-friend

Note: This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you have pain or other symptoms that seem to be getting worse, or any concerns about your general health, before starting exercise or self-care...

Welcome to the Pain Free Living podcast with co-host and Therapy coach Clare Elsby.

In this solo episode, she explores a challenge many people face without realising it: the fear of pain and how it can quietly shrink your world.

You’ll hear how one client, after a fall post–hip surgery, became so anxious about “what might happen” that his confidence, mobility, and mood all declined — even though every scan showed he was physically safe.

Clare explains how fear-based pain works, involving your nervous system staying on high alert, so that even normal movement can feel threatening.

You’ll discover why changing unhelpful thoughts (“I will fall”) to gentler “ladder thoughts” (“I might fall”) helps reset the brain, and how small, safe steps rebuild trust in your body. Through gradual exposure and curiosity, her client regained confidence, and the pain eased as his fear lifted.

If you’ve ever stepped back from movement, worried about flare-ups, or felt anxious after an injury, this episode offers simple, practical tools to help you move forward again.

Feel free to share this episode with a friend or family member who would benefit from hearing this advice.

• Fear of pain is common, and it can amplify symptoms even when scans show nothing is wrong.
• Your internal language (“I will fall”) can fuel anxiety; “ladder thoughts” help bridge back to confidence.
• Avoidance shrinks your world and feeds more fear; gradual exposure helps reverse the cycle.
• Small, safe steps build real evidence that your body is more capable than your anxious mind suggests.
• With the right support, confidence grows, mobility returns, and pain often reduces as fear eases.

😎 Learn more about Bob’s story: https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

🤩 Find out more about Clare’s work: https://www.clareelsby.com/

📰 Sign up for our Pain Free Living newsletter: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🎙️ Connect with us on socials & podcast platforms: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you have any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines.

You’re with Bob Allen, osteopath and co-host of the Pain Free Living podcast, and in this solo episode, you’ll find out why the pain you feel isn’t always coming from the place you think.

We’re talking about referred pain, which is a concept you might not have heard of, but you might have experienced.

Bob starts by explaining that referred pain is when you feel pain in one area, but the true source of the pain is somewhere completely different. You’ll hear how heart attack symptoms can show up in the arm, shoulder, neck, and jaw, all because those areas share the same nerve pathways entering the spine.

This episode isn’t about scaring you; instead, Bob breaks down why this matters in real life. If your therapist only treats the painful area, they can easily miss the true problem, and that means pain relief that might only last a few days before coming back.

You’ll hear a real clinical case involving long-standing knee pain, years of procedures, ongoing discomfort, and no real improvement… until a full assessment showed the hip on the opposite side was actually the problem. With treatment to both the knee and the hip, the pain settled within two sessions, providing a perfect example of how your body will compensate when something hurts and can quickly be resolved by treating the right areas.

Bob explains why persistent pain often includes multiple areas working harder than they should, which can result in pain in other areas. You’ll also learn why thorough case histories, movement assessments, and hands-on testing are essential because the knee, hip, ankle, and low back are far more connected than most people realise.

By the end, you’ll know exactly why “where it hurts” is rarely the whole story, and why a full-body approach leads to longer-lasting results.

5 Key Takeaways

• Referred pain means the painful area isn’t always the source of the problem.
• Nerves from different regions share spinal pathways, creating confusing pain maps.
• Long-standing pain often involves compensation patterns on the opposite side.
• A good therapist should always assess beyond where you feel the pain.
• Treating the true source leads to lasting relief, not temporary fixes.

Find out more about us and stay connected

😎 Bob’s story: https://bit.ly/BobsOsteoStory

🤩 Who is Clare Elsby?: https://www.clareelsby.com/

📰 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/PFL_newsletter_signup

🎙️ Socials & podcast platforms: https://linktr.ee/Painfreeliving

Note: This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not replace professional assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek qualified healthcare advice if you have back pain, new or worsening symptoms, or any concerns about your health before starting exercise or self-care routines.