Diagnostic Testing Is a Tool,
Not an Answer
It is human nature to want to know what causes our pain. When something doesn’t feel right, we want an answer. That’s why medicine has developed with technology to provide diagnostic testing. When we experience pain in our knees, shoulders, or back, we often have tests ordered to determine the cause. Diagnostic tests like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans can play a very important role in finding out what’s wrong. However, these tests can have their weaknesses. They don’t always provide all the answers, and they can’t always tell us why we are having pain. A study conducted by a well-known orthopedic surgeon looked at the shoulders of pitchers with NO history of shoulder problems. It found nearly 90 percent of them had some cartilage or rotator cuff damage. But they had no pain. What was going on?
pain on that finding, but that is not always the case. There are at least 33 studies that looked at about 3,000 patients WITHOUT back pain. They show significant issues in the low back, such as degenerative changes, bulging, and ruptured discs, but they have no symptoms. The studies discovered that as we age, the findings are often worse, but they are still not a predictor of pain or disability. When you have a scan, X-ray, or other test, it can give us a good idea of what’s going on, but it doesn’t give us all the information we need. It’s important to look at your history and the symptoms you are experiencing to make sure those findings correlate with them. All of these issues need to be taken into account before making a decision. These situations occur all the time. A recent patient of ours was diagnosed with an ACL tear in her knee by an MRI. She had surgery recently and discovered she did not actually
even have an ACL tear. I had a friend several years ago who had an MRI on his back for an unrelated issue and was found to have a ruptured disc, but had no back or leg pain. Many times, these diagnostic findings can create a level of concern or fear in a person who doesn’t fully understand the ramifications. We all know these tests are vitally important in healthcare, but they are just one tool. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You might find it helpful to have additional conversations with your doctor and physical therapist to create a clearer understanding.
X-rays and MRI’s are not definitive tests. If somebody has back pain, and something is discovered on an MRI, it’s easy to blame the
Have A Laugh!
Slow Cooker Raspberry White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients •
1 cup white chocolate chips
•
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
•
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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2 cups heavy cream, divided
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4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
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3 cups milk (any variety will do)
Directions 1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
New
Elite PT • (318) 443-3311 • 3
Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.
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