So, you develop pain with or without an injury. If the pain is between 0-2, and you can do full activities, you can probably wait a month before you see someone (and maybe the pain will go away by then). Of course, when you do see someone, you expect their diagnosis to be correct (which it normally is by the way), and month by month you get better and better (I assume 3 months on average to greatly improve if the injury requires a doctor visit). It is important in my mind to drive the pain down to 0-2 as quickly as possible (a week for sure), and then keep it there. This could initially be done by stopping an activity, put in a cast, and/or up on crutches. This is how you know you have the right diagnosis and treatment plan. You should be able to increase function, with no increase in pain, month by month. Of course, if your diagnosis requires a cast or boot or surgery, you may not be able to start that progression to full function for several months. In these cases, the diagnosis is definitive from the start (verified by xray or MRI or ultrasound).
So, that is the Right Timing of Events: Injury or Pain Development, Proper Diagnosis and Treatment, Pain Quickly Down to 0-2, and Pain Kept There as Full Function Returns. Sounds simple, but it gets messed up all the time due to the limitations on medicine listed above. And, we can add insurance issues that block both diagnosis (say inability to get MRI) and treatment (do not cover the expensive bone stimulator you need). The patient is carefully moved through the phases of rehabilitation (immobilization, re-strengthening, and return to activity) and all goes well.
I will give you 2 recent examples of the Wrong Timing of Events. The first was a patient that partially tore her achilles, pain level 6-7, limping. She went to the local hospital clinic, and received 3 stem cell injections one month apart as her only treatment. No cast. No driving the pain to 0-2. And, no better, so 5 months later comes to me for a second opinion. This is one of the top hospitals in the country, or so they advertise. The second was a patient whose plantar fasciitis was improving with orthotics, taping, icing and stretching, but when she had a flare from running too much on the weekend, when the pain got to 5-6 from the 0-2, all the doctor did was put some more padding on her orthotic devices and give her a Rx for PT. This does not sound bad, but she had never had this much pain, and it took 3 weeks to see the PT for the first session (which is typically just information gathering). So, one month went by, the heel padding had made her worse, the PT really not started, and her pain from limping had increased to 6-7 levels. The doctor had a second chance to right the ship, but again the orthotics were adjusted, and taping was applied which did not help. She clearly had a severe flare of her plantar fasciitis or a new injury. After seeking a second opinion, due to the level of pain, an MRI revealed a calcaneal stress fracture, and definitive treatment started. So, when the pain you are treating gets worse, ask yourself if you still believe in your working diagnosis first, and ask how can I reduce this patients pain to 0-2.
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Thank you very much for leaving a comment. Due to my time restraints, some comments may not be answered.I will answer questions that I feel will help the community as a whole.. I can only answer medical questions in a general form. No specific answers can be given. Please consult a podiatrist, therapist, orthopedist, or sports medicine physician in your area for specific questions.