It started seemingly out of nowhere. One day you are floating around from dog walking, weight lifting and Pelotoning, and the next, you can hardly lift your leg to get out of the car.

Your heart starts to race as you rack your brain, rehearsing every step you took yesterday, trying to pinpoint what you might have done to cause this injury.

You let out a full body sigh of relief as you recall your 70 pound Golden Retriever lunging after a squirrel on Main Street and the jarring effort it took to reign him back in. (He is a 12/10 and the goodest boy, but he can be a bit impulsive).

“That must have been it”, you think.

You spend the next couple of days tending to your hip with some ice, stretching and going slower on your hikes.

Next thing you know, a week has gone by and you feel a tug of worry in your stomach when you realize your hip still hurts - you can’t cross your legs without a sharp pain and the aching you feel down the front of your thigh is distracting when you are trying to get your work done.

So you begrudgingly make an appointment with your favourite Physio and spend the next 2 months strengthening your glutes and working on your core and pelvic floor strength. You feel some moments of improvement, and glimpses of hope – but if you are being totally honest with yourself, your hip still hurts and you still can’t do any semblance of butterfly pose in your restorative class 🧘(and it used to be your favourite!).

Can you relate? Do you have an injury that appeared “out of the blue” and now seems to haunt you? If so, you are in the right place!

Here’s the truth that you probably already know, but might need to hear again: Pain is often just the symptom and …

the place that hurts, isn’t always the problem.

The real cause can be somewhere completely unexpected - tied to an old injury, a scar, a muscular imbalance or a belief …

If you’re tired of chasing pain and not getting anywhere, it might be time to stop treating the symptom and start digging for the root cause. That’s exactly what we do at EMP – longer appointments, whole-person assessments, and treating the nerves that relay information throughout your entire body.

Pain doesn’t lie … BUT it doesn’t often tell the full story 📖.

If you want help finding the root cause of your discomfort so that you can get rid of it, optimize function and prevent yourself from waking up to mysterious (insert body part of your choosing) pain that doesn’t seem to want to go away .. that’s our area of expertise – whole-person assessment and longer appointments to uncover the full picture.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!!

About the author: Kristin Bignell is a Registered Physiotherapist and the Owner of East Mill Physio in Elora, ON and empow(HER) Volleyball. She has a special interest in Neurofunctional Acupuncture and Sports Performance. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of what we traditionally believe to be possible with respect to injury rehabilitation and performance optimization by using a holistic treatment style. Kristin trained in Neurofunctional Acupuncture and Neurofunctional Sports Performance at The Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program through McMaster University and is an Instructor in the Acupuncture Program. The information presented in this article is her interpretation of what she has learned to date. To learn more about East Mill Physio, visit www.eastmillphysio.ca.

Disclaimer: All information provided can at no time substitute medical advice and individual assessment by a qualified medical professional. East Mill Physio recommends seeking professional advice before commencing any type of self-treatment, as the information provided is not intended to be relied on for medical diagnosis and treatment. Visitors of the website eastmillphysio.ca use the information provided at their own risk. East Mill Physio will not accept responsibility for any consequences or injuries. By accessing the website eastmillphysio.ca visitors agree not to redistribute the information and material presented. eastmillphysio.ca provides links to companies for the visitor’s convenience only, and does not endorse or recommend the services of any company. The company selected by the visitor of eastmillphysio.ca is solely responsible for the services provided to you. East Mill Physio will not be liable for any damages, costs, or injuries following or in any way connected to the visitor’s choice of company/service.