If you’ve ever had a headache, then you know how important it is to have a doctor on your side. If you’ve ever had chronic pain, then you know just how critical a good doctor can be. The first step towards finding effective treatment is getting the right diagnosis from an experienced physician who knows what he or she’s doing. In this post, I’m going to explain why physical examination is so important in treating chronic pain.
It Allows Practitioners To Assess Pain And Develop A Treatment Plan Accordingly
The physical examination allows practitioners to assess pain and develop a treatment plan accordingly, says Dr Brian Blick. It allows them to determine the location and severity of your pain, as well as any other factors contributing to your symptoms. They can assess your range of motion, muscle strength, reflexes and sensory perception (feeling) in order to understand how they affect each other when combined with chronic illness or injury.
Provides Information About Whether There Are Other Factors Contributing To Your Pain
The physical examination can help identify conditions that are causing or contributing to your pain, but may not be apparent from symptoms alone. For example, if you have back pain and a history of smoking, it’s possible that your lung cancer has metastasized to the spine. In this case, it’s important to rule out other causes of back pain before starting treatment for your lung cancer.
A thorough examination may also reveal factors such as poor posture or gait patterns (the way you walk) which contribute to chronic low back pain. A physical therapist can work with you on exercises designed to improve these factors and reduce or eliminate them altogether.
Provides Information About The Severity Of The Pain
The physical examination provides information about severity of your pain. It is important to understand where your pain is coming from, as this can help you determine a treatment plan Dr Brian Blick. For example, if you have a headache that only occurs at night, it may be caused by something other than muscle tension or stress. A doctor might recommend medication for headaches that occur only at night (and not during the day).