Orthobiologic Myth #5: “My Pain Is Coming from One Problem”
- cassis101
- Oct 14
- 2 min read
By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano
It’s human nature to look for one culprit. “One bad disc.” “One torn tendon.” “One joint gone wrong.” But the body doesn’t work that way—because it’s not a collection of parts. It’s a living, moving system.
The One-Problem Illusion “My Pain Is Coming from One Problem”
We grow up believing that pain must have a single cause. After all, we live in a medical world built on specialists, each one focused on one part of the body. Orthopedic surgeons handle the joints. Neurologists handle the nerves. Pain doctors handle the spine, nerves and joints.
So when your knee starts to hurt, it seems logical to assume the problem is your knee. But the truth is, pain rarely follows that rule.
Our musculoskeletal system is an elegant network of moving parts: muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and joints that communicate constantly. A single breakdown anywhere in that chain can create stress everywhere else.
I see this every day:
A hip problem that begins to alter gait mechanics and causes knee and ankle strain.
A shoulder that aches because of cervical spine dysfunction.
A tight lower back that eventually weakens the muscles stabilizing the pelvis.
And the system compounds itself. The spine sends nerve input to the muscles that stabilize joints. When those signals weaken, the muscles atrophy. Tendons take on extra load. Ligaments stretch. Joints begin to move abnormally and the result is pain that feels localized but is actually systemic.
Think in Chains, Not in Parts
When evaluating persistent pain, the question shouldn’t be, “Where does it hurt?” but “What’s connected to what?”
For example:
Shoulder discomfort often travels upstream to the C4–C6 spinal segments.
Knee dysfunction can be influenced by L4–L5 nerve irritation.
Hip and ankle issues often coexist because of compensatory gait mechanics.
Addressing only the “loudest” joint may bring temporary relief, but lasting restoration comes from understanding and treating the interconnected system.
I’ve experienced this personally. My severe shoulder arthritis didn’t exist in isolation—it was part of a pattern that involved my C4–C5 spine, my hands, my knees, and even my lumbar region. Once I addressed each part of that chain, balance began to return.
See the Whole System
If you’ve been chasing one diagnosis after another: “It’s my hip.” “It’s my back.” “It’s my knee.”it may be time to reframe the question.
Your body is a remarkable biological machine, whether you see it as an evolutionary wonder or the creation of divine design. Its components work together, and when one link fails, others follow.
Precision regenerative medicine respects that complexity. It focuses on restoring balanced function, not just quieting one source of pain.
If you’ve been told your pain is from one thing, it’s worth taking a closer look at the whole system. Schedule a comprehensive evaluation to understand the full story behind your pain.
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