Lower back pain may be easy to feel, but its cause and recovery are not always easy to judge. Teresa Shen discusses seven issues patients often overlook, including residual problems after pain settles, MRI findings, long-term physical load, sudden triggers and signs that require further assessment.
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There is no single acupuncture formula for lower back pain. Teresa Shen explains how she first identifies the likely pain source and reversible factors, then uses clinical assessment and TCM differentiation to choose an individual treatment approach.
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Lower back pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Teresa Shen explains why she first considers the cause of the pain, whether acupuncture is appropriate, and when further investigation or reassessment may be more important than continuing treatment.
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When lower back pain spreads into the buttock or leg, many people assume they have sciatica caused by a slipped or herniated disc. But similar symptoms can come from a lumbar nerve root, the sciatic nerve itself, other peripheral nerves, or muscles around the hip and buttock. The source of the pain matters because it changes the treatment.
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An ankle sprain from yesterday and a shoulder injury that has persisted for a year may both be ACC injuries, but they should not automatically be treated in the same way. Teresa Shen explains why timely management matters in acute injuries, while chronic injuries often require careful reassessment to identify what is now preventing recovery.
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MRI, X-ray and ultrasound showed extensive abnormalities in this patient’s painful knee, including meniscal damage, cartilage loss and osteoarthritis. Yet his symptoms and clinical examination told a more complicated story. Dr Win Huang reflects on an important question: when treating chronic knee pain, what are we actually trying to change?
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Shoulder pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Although the problem may come from the shoulder itself, pain can also originate from the neck, nerves, muscles around the shoulder blade or, less commonly, other medical conditions. Teresa Shen shares how she approaches the question: where is the pain actually coming from?
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Many patients ask me whether their painful, stiff shoulder is caused by frozen shoulder or a rotator cuff injury. Although both conditions can make lifting the arm difficult, they develop differently and require different treatment approaches. In this Clinical Reflection, I explain how I distinguish between these conditions using clinical history, physical examination, imaging when appropriate, and Traditional Chinese Medicine
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A diagnosis is rarely found by chance. Experienced clinicians follow clues, develop diagnostic hypotheses, test them through history taking and examination, and gradually narrow down the possibilities. Dr Huang shares the clinical thinking developed over more than forty years in practice.
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Many people expect an ankle sprain to heal naturally within a few weeks. However, in my clinic, I often see patients whose pain, swelling or repeated ankle sprains continue long after the original injury.
Over the years, treating these patients has taught me that successful recovery begins with careful assessment. It is not only about relieving pain—it is about understanding why
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