Pain is such a confusing topic. And there’s lots of advice out there on what you should and shouldn’t do about it.
Should you rest? Should you exercise? Apply heat or ice? Do you see a doctor? Or let it go away on its own?
Before you can even think about a solution to your pain, you must first accurately determine where it’s coming from.
If you have pain in your knee, and it’s coming from your back, for example, the best treatment in the world isn’t going to fix it. Inaccurate diagnosis of pain is one of the biggest reasons why so many people suffer longer than they need to, and why they undergo unnecessary surgeries.
You must accurately determine the source of your pain for treatment to be effective. And the location of your pain is NOT a reliable way to figure out where it’s coming from.
For example, I’ve met people who’ve suffered from unrelenting tennis elbow for years, only to find out it was coming from their neck. It’s why all the elbow and arm treatment in the world wasn’t solving their problem. I’ve met people who’ve undergone major knee surgery and it failed – only to find out later they never actually had a knee problem. Their pain was coming from their lower back – it just got missed – or was never even considered.
Isolated extremity pain (knees, elbows, shoulders) is one of the most mis-diagnosed problems in the musculoskeletal world.
In a study published in the Journal of Manipulative Therapy, Richard Rosedale, et al found that over 40% of people suffering from isolated extremity pain had a spinal source responsible for their symptoms. In other words, the pain they were feeling in their knee or shoulder was actually coming from their back or neck (respectively).
Confused? I don’t blame you.
But more importantly, how do you reliably figure out the source of your pain when it’s not always where you’re feeling it?
As already mentioned, the most common place for this to happen is with extremities. If you’ve got shoulder, elbow, or knee pain, and you don’t recall having a specific injury to it, you must consider that it could be coming from your spine.
There’s a 44% chance that it is.
Where this gets really confusing is that typically, when you’ve got isolated knee or shoulder pain that won’t go away, your doctor will order an MRI. And if you’re over 40 years old, the MRI will almost always show “something”. It could be a torn rotator cuff, torn meniscus, arthritis, or wear and tear.
What most people don’t realize is that these findings are quite normal and happen naturally as you age. Just because they show up in your MRI – doesn’t mean they are responsible for your pain.
Despite studies showing this to be true, doctors continue to order these tests and rely on them to make important decisions about treatment. It’s how people end up undergoing unnecessary procedures or surgery.
Whenever I meet someone with isolated extremity pain, especially if it came out of nowhere, I always consider that it could be coming from their spine.
How can you figure this out?
Well, it’s challenging to figure it out on your own. But if you work with a movement specialist who understands this concept – like the specialists in my office – you’ll be able to figure this out accurately.
The basic premise is that if you can move your spine in specific directions – repeatedly – and influence the symptoms you feel in your extremity – then there is a very good chance your problem is coming from your spine. Or at the very least, your spine is involved.
And whenever your spine is responsible solely or partially for pain elsewhere – and it’s ignored – your problem will persist and likely get worse over time.
If you’ve had pain in one of your extremities for a while now, and it’s not going away, it’s possible you’ve missed the source.
That source could be your spine.
And if you’re considering some kind of surgery or procedure, you definitely want to rule this out first.
Specialized movement exams are one of the most reliable ways to figure this out – studies have proven it.
If you’ve had unexplained pain in your knee or shoulder that isn’t going away, look for someone who understands this and can give you a proper movement exam to accurately identify the source of your pain
Or consider talking to a specialist at my clinic about it if you’re local.
If you’ve got pain that isn’t going away despite trying lots of other things already – and it’s keeping you from doing things you love to do – then apply for a Free Discovery Session with a specialist at my clinic.
These sessions are perfect for someone who wants help, but is a bit nervous about where they should turn next, because by this point they’ve been let down by quite a few providers already.
We offer these sessions because we understand this – and want you to be 100% certain about getting help from us before moving forward.
If you qualify for a Free Discovery Session – that’s exactly what we’ll determine before we let you move forward. We’ll make sure that we can help you and that you’re a good fit for what we do – before we let you move forward and become a client.
If you want to apply for a Free Discovery Session – CLICK HERE.
Trupti graduated with a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from UNC- Chapel Hill in 2001. She has furthered her studies with numerous post-graduate courses focusing on the Neck, shoulder, knee, and back, with a strong emphasis in manual therapy. Recently completed courses in Maitland-Australian Physiotherapy Seminars (Levels 1- 5), has afforded her an excellent way to relieve pain and help people get moving, active and healthy quickly and effectively.
With 20+ years of experience in Physical Therapy, Trupti has practiced in various orthopedic and sports focused clinical settings, in both the Raleigh-Durham, NC and DC regions. She has been Director of multiple Physical therapy Clinics in DC and also worked with some renowned specialists at Georgetown University Hospital in DC. During her years of service, Trupti has had the privilege of caring for a wide variety of clients: from school-aged children to retirees; from homemakers to business professionals; from weekend warriors to professional athletes.
Trupti is an avid fan of the outdoors, art, traveling and of course the Tar Heels. She enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew.
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