Pain Upstream/Downstream

Sometimes pain that we feel is not caused by the direct point where we feel the pain. Often pain is caused from dysfunction that is happening above or below the point  where the pain is felt. We can think about this like a river, pain travels up or downstream from where the initial problem occurred. Of course if you tear your rotator cuff then your shoulder will hurt and it is the shoulder that is the problem. But for other, less acute pains, we can often find pain relief, not by treating the exact point of pain, but by treating the original cause of the pain that has traveled up or down stream.

If you're experiencing pain that you can't relate directly to a specific injury in that area, try following these steps to find pain relief.

Step One: Assess the point of pain

Why/When do you have pain? Is it a certain movement that causes pain? If so, what muscles are involved in that movement? Use the over active/under active info if needed.

Step Two: Assess the joints above and below the point of pain

Have you had surgery/injury above or below that point? If so use the scar tissue tactics we discussed here.

Step Three: Assess the system

Is it just one muscle that's sore/weak or is the problem stemming from a nerve issue?For example, a sore shoulder due to a c-spine issue does not necessarily need more strength in the delts or rotators. It likely needs strength gain in the back (specifically traps/lats) and neck (specifically neck flexors). A sore hip due to a L-spine disc issue doesn't need the piriformis to be released over and over. It likely needs strength in the core and glutes.

If you need help with any of these steps, contact me at info@keylifestylesolutions.com