Who do I see about…? why take the time to listen?

You’ve injured something.

You’re not sure what. Or what has happened. But something isn’t right.

You’re in pain. You’re worried.

Where do you go?

Many people turn to the internet. Or social media. Some have a trusted provider already.

But what if those answers are unclear? Who can you trust to give you a straight answer? Is this person you have seen before the right professional to see?

I’ve heard it before

Over the many years’ as a clinician, I have run into the same questions on many occasions.

People ask me at events - “Oh I did have this problem. Who should I see about it?”.

Or in day to day conversation, someone will ask - “What do I do about my pain?”.

Often there isn’t a straight answer. Pain and injury is a complex situation.

There is usually a story - a series of events and factors that have preceded the injury and influenced pain. As clinicians, we need to spend the time to tease out all the information, consider the factors.

An example - Your Achilles Tendon

The Achilles is one of the strongest tendons in the body. It is crucial for propulsion - walking, jumping, running. It deals with over 7-times our bodyweight when running. It is a coiled spring of individual tendon cells, all working together like a strong, taught rope to deal with huge forces and impacts. It is connected to strong calf muscles, and is anchored at the calcaneus - a solid rock of a bone in your heal. This thing is robust!

But it is prone to pain and injury. With all that demand, numerous factors can put it in a place of vulnerability and stress.

If it is underloaded, the tendon cells get lazy, thinning and reducing their capacity. If it is overloaded too quickly, those cells get too much stimulus and not enough recovery.

If we under-fuel, there are not enough nutrients for the tendon. If we limit our sleep, we don’t allow time for restoration.

When we age, our tissues degenerate slightly. In young adults, the attachments to bone are not fully matured.

If muscles are weak, the tendon is loaded abnormally. If we are offloading one side, the other side gets overloaded.

If there is an underlying inflammatory condition, tendons can be affected.

Micro tears or muscle strains can be present - underlying structural damage that generates pain.

It’s complicated

If you’ve got this far, you can see how there are many factors and lines of enquiry that a healthcare professional has to consider when trying to ascertain the cause of someone’s pain.

As the patient, you need to feel heard. You want someone to consider all of the possibilities. You need to know you’re in good hands.

So, who do you see? Who will take the time to listen?

Jointly

We’re simplifying this issue.

We’re making it easier to get to that clinician and feel heard. We’re delivering the answers to those questions.

By bringing them to you.

With convenient virtual appointments, we take time to listen, carefully analysing your story and the factors at play in your situation.

Then we direct you to the most appropriate person for you.

This goes beyond just Physiotherapy. Beyond doctors, medicine, chiropractors etc.

This connects the dots. We join the elements together. Jointly.

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