Don’t Wait for Pain to See Someone
Welcome back to the MoveMed blog! Today, we’re tackling an important topic that I see every day in practice—waiting until pain becomes unbearable before seeking help. If you’re only addressing pain when it’s at its worst, you’re missing a key opportunity to optimise your health. Pain, after all, is just one piece of the puzzle, and often, it's not even the most reliable indicator of dysfunction.
Pain and Dysfunction: Poorly Linked
One of the most misunderstood aspects of pain is its relationship with dysfunction. Pain can be deceiving. Some people experience intense pain with minimal physical dysfunction, while others may have severe joint or muscle dysfunction and feel little to no pain at all. Pain, therefore, isn’t always the best gauge for when to seek help.
Research has shown that pain is influenced by multiple factors—biological, psychological, and social—making it a complex, often unreliable, marker for underlying issues. In fact many people with severe structural abnormalities in their spine report no pain, while others with minimal changes experience debilitating discomfort .
This is why, at MoveMed, we believe in taking a proactive approach to health. By addressing issues before they become symptomatic, we help our patients stay ahead of the curve, ensuring that their body remains functional and resilient.
Trusting Your Health Professional: Consistency is Key
It’s not just about seeing someone when you’re in pain—it's about finding a health professional you trust to guide your wellness journey. Once you’ve found someone who is evidence-based and focused on personalised care, consistency becomes the next critical element. Seeing your chiropractor, physiotherapist, or other healthcare professional infrequently but consistently can be the key to keeping your body in peak condition.
Consistent check-ins, even when you feel fine, allow for early detection of imbalances, weaknesses, or dysfunctions that might not yet be causing pain. Preventative care that focuses on movement and joint function can help reduce the risk of injury and maintain optimal health over time .
Preventative Health: The 5 Pillars (LENDS)
At MoveMed, we look at health holistically. It’s not just about alleviating pain or treating symptoms—it’s about creating a foundation for long-term well-being. This is where our five pillars of health come in, known as LENDS: Love, Exercise, New Movement, Diet, and Sleep.
Love: Social support and positive relationships are vital for both mental and physical health. A strong support system can reduce stress, improve resilience, and even accelerate recovery.
Exercise: Movement is medicine. Regular exercise strengthens muscles, supports joint health, and enhances overall function. The goal isn’t just to move more—it’s to move better.
New Movement: Variety is key. Your body adapts to repetitive motions, which is why introducing new movement patterns is essential to keep your muscles and joints healthy. Studies show that people who regularly engage in varied physical activities experience fewer musculoskeletal complaints over time.
Diet: What you put into your body has a direct impact on how it performs. A balanced, nutritious diet fuels recovery, reduces inflammation, and supports overall health.
Sleep: Sleep is the cornerstone of recovery. Without proper rest, your body can’t repair itself, which can lead to chronic issues and dysfunction.
Don’t Wait for Pain: Take Action Today
Waiting for pain is like waiting for your car engine to fail before getting a service—it doesn’t make sense. By taking a proactive, preventative approach to your health, you’ll keep your body moving well, reduce your risk of injury, and, most importantly, feel better day-to-day.
At MoveMed, we encourage all our patients to come in for regular check-ups, even when they’re not experiencing pain. These visits allow us to identify and address any dysfunction before it becomes a problem, helping you to stay strong, resilient, and pain-free.
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National Guideline Centre (UK). Evidence review for manual therapy for chronic primary pain: Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain: Evidence review I. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021 Apr. (NICE Guideline, No. 193.) Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK569986/
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