Your Knee Might Not Be the Problem, Your Spine May Be
Knee pain has a way of showing up everywhere, the stairs you used to climb without a second thought, the walk you used to enjoy, even settling in for a restful night. And when nothing you try seems to make it go away for good, it's easy to feel discouraged, or start wondering if something's being overlooked. Here's something useful to know: sometimes the knee is simply where the pain is felt, not where the problem actually begins. Read on for more useful information from Chiropractic Solutions on this knee pain issue...and about chiropractic knee pain care and back pain relief!
THE HIDDEN CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR SPINE AND YOUR KNEE
Your knee doesn't work alone. It's connected to a extensive chain of nerves that run from your lower back, through your hip and thigh, all the way down to your lower leg and foot. Irritation or compression anywhere along that nerve pathway can be felt as knee pain, regardless of how sound the knee joint actually is. This isn't only a theoretical possibility, it's been documented in real patient cases. One recent report described a woman whose thigh pain after knee replacement surgery felt unbearable and wouldn't let up. The true source turned out to have nothing to do with her knee, it was a hamstring injury compressing the nerve running down the back of her leg. A separate study of patients with prolonged post-surgical knee pain found that nerve compression along the leg is commonly missed, and the researchers emphasized the need for a more thorough physical exam that evaluates strength, sensation, and how the nerve reacts to specific positions. (1,2) At Chiropractic Solutions, this is exactly the level of careful evaluation we bring to every exam.
HOW A CAREFUL CHIROPRACTIC EXAM FINDS THE REAL SOURCE
This is precisely why a careful, comprehensive chiropractic exam is so important. An experienced chiropractor like yours at Chiropractic Solutions understands that because the knee, hip, and spine share nerve connections, the hurting joint isn't always the whole story. This involves assessing how well your lower back is moving and functioning, evaluating nerve response along the entire leg, and watching for signs that suggest nerve involvement rather than a simple joint issue. By evaluating your spine and leg as a connected system, your chiropractor can help uncover what's actually causing your pain. Having that perception makes all the difference in your care. It's what separates a plan that only chases symptoms from one that delivers real relief.
READY TO GET TO THE ROOT OF YOUR KNEE PAIN? CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions!
If relief has been harder to find than you'd hoped, it's worth considering whether your spine could be involved. At Chiropractic Solutions, we take the time to look at the full picture, your spine and your lower extremities together, so we can find what's truly driving your pain and build a plan around it, not just around your symptoms.
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Luigi Albano on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the relief possible with a medication-free approach to knee osteoarthritis, applying the same spine-based principles to the knee that he uses in treating the spine with non-surgical, non-drug Cox® Technic protocols.
We'd love to help you get answers and genuine relief. Give us a call or stop in, we're ready to help you feel like yourself again. Make your San Jose chiropractic appointment now.
