So - you’re getting tingling down your arm, you may even have some sensation in your fingers and along your shoulder. You could also be presenting with coldness in the arm and fingers and even some discolouration in the arm after or during exercise - one of the elements to consider is a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).

 Clients presenting with disc herniations will usually be accompanied with numbing pain and radiating pain in their extremities.  Notably the sensation affects broad areas of the legs and arms and even down to the feet and hands due to the nature of neural (nerve) involvement in a disc bulge.  This neural involvement is particularly noteworthy in a cervical disc bulge due to the relatively small space between vertebral segments.  Any change in the discs here is felt perhaps more acutely than in the lumbar spine as there is just less space for the body to tolerate any changes in this small opening.

Knowing what type of knee pain is important as the treatment protocols do differ for each one and understanding what the presenting issues are can help you to target exactly why you are getting the knee pain.  This also determines what type of remedial activity you can indulge in and whether you can rebuild yourself back into your sports activity, or whether it is time to hang up the boots, pads, or runners.

Anatomically the shin splint is a collection of conditions that can be coined into this ‘umbrella term’.  From muscular tears, inflammation of the periosteum (connective tissue enveloping bones at joints) and even hairline fractures.  They are usually the result of overuse of the Tibialis Anterior, Extensor Digitorum Longus and Extensor Hallucis Longus muscles that run down the lateral part of the anterior lower leg.  It can also relate to tearing of the Tibialis Posterior Muscle and soleus that lie in the posterior compartment. These muscles are connected to the tibia via a periosteum - a connective sheath that runs the length of the tibia bone and encases the muscles within it. Which is perhaps unique in the body as most muscles attach only at the ends of their tendinous insertions. 

A Morton’s Neuroma is a thickening of the plantar nerve that innervates the sole of the foot.  Rather than the neuroma being a tumour or growth (as the anatomical term implies), the Morton’s Neuroma is a thickening of the sheath (or sock) that surrounds the plantar nerve.  So rather than it being a pebble in your foot, it is the surrounding tissue of the nerve that becomes irritated and creates swelling that then impedes function. 

However, there is a very real threat of throwing yourself into the fray with just a little bit too much 'exercise' abandon.  Its great to harness the excitement of 'going for it' and utilising all that freshly cultivated motivation, throwing on the running shoes that you got from Aunty Beryl for Christmas and setting out your weekly timetable of 6am spin classes with an added lunchtime run around the Botanical Gardens and yoga at 8:30pm.  But the danger is that you got 'too hard', 'too quickly'.

Scheduling in time to reflect is important. Putting it in the diary makes it a task. Which you want to do if you are serious about maintaining that balance between work/life/relationships etc. Brainstorming and ideas don't flow freely when we are frantic and stressed and trying to 'fit' something into the daily work planner. Like a garden, it needs time and space to grow.

Getting the right advice is important. Getting the right diagnosis is paramount.  Having contrary opinions is all very valid, but if a practitioner isn't listening to what you are saying and not taking into account 'your' experience and what you 'feel' is the issue, then perhaps it is time to find another therapist.  You are the person who can give the information about exactly what is being experienced and that information is often a great insight for anyone wanting to investigate symptoms or conditions.  It is a therapist's job to LISTEN.  Despite having qualifications and degrees and years of being a professional, no-one knows your body better than you do.  Only you know what you are experiencing.  Being able to illustrate or dictate that is sometimes a challenge but never believe that you don't know better or that what you think isn't valuable!