You Deserve More Than a Diagnosis
If you’ve ever been in pain, chances are one of your first instincts was to look for a diagnosis — maybe from an orthopedist, or maybe just from the internet.
I get it. I’ve done it too.
Even as a trained medical provider, I’ve found myself scrolling through search results trying to make sense of what I’m feeling.
But then I remember the very advice I give to my own patients:
Don’t put too much weight on the diagnosis alone.
Here’s why...
A diagnosis points out the what, but does not fully explain the why and how behind one’s pain.
Let’s take a step back and reflect on your experience when you were diagnosed..
When you were told you had patellofemoral pain, did the clinician diagnosing you check your feet, hips, ribcage, shoulder, or other body parts aside from your knee? If not, is it fair to say that they have exhausted all possibilities behind why you are experiencing your pain?
Let’s break down some common diagnoses and what they truly mean:
Hip impingement — hip pain
Patellofemoral pain — knee pain
Lumbago— back pain
Lateral epicondylitis “Tennis elbow” — elbow pain
Herniated disc at C5-C6 — neck pain
These clinical terms can feel overwhelming. And when you break them down, they often confirm something you already knew: you're in pain, and you know where it hurts.
But what they don’t tell you is why you’re in pain — or what to do about it.
That’s where the real work begins.
At ONUS Health, we believe a diagnosis is just the starting point — not the solution. Whether you show up with a detailed referral, a long list of medical terms, or simply say, “my knee hurts,” our approach stays the same:
We assess your whole body — not just the site of pain — to uncover what’s contributing to the issue.
Pain doesn’t happen in isolation. Restrictions or imbalances in one area can lead to stress and dysfunction elsewhere. That’s why a thorough, integrated assessment is key to meaningful, lasting change.
A diagnosis might describe what’s hurting. But it doesn’t define your treatment.
Your movement, your habits, your patterns — that’s where the answers are.
If you’re tired of short-term fixes and want a deeper understanding of what your body needs to truly heal, we’re here to help.