Presentation
This case is about body awareness. A woman came in for a routine assessment of long-standing, general aches. She had been living with them for several years and had already seen other health professionals about them.
What was noticed
During the assessment, I noticed something about her hands and asked her about it. She looked down at them, a little puzzled, and said they had “always been like this”. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing to notice.
She wasn’t ignoring anything. It was simply her normal, and nobody had asked.
I suggested she have it checked by her GP. Whenever I notice something during an assessment that could have a medical cause, I ask the client to get it checked, usually by their GP, and at the emergency department if it seems urgent.
Reflection
The things we’ve lived with longest are often the hardest for us to see. When you live in a body every day, you adapt to it. You find ways around stiffness, you stop noticing a habitual posture, and you stop registering a feeling that has always been there.
This case is a reminder of why history-taking and careful observation matter as much as any hands-on technique. A fresh pair of eyes and a simple question, such as “has it always been like this?”, can open a conversation that wouldn’t otherwise happen.
Noticing is the first step, not the answer
Many of the body changes people get used to, such as swelling, ongoing dizziness, frequent headaches or unexplained aches, can have medical causes that deserve proper investigation. They are a reason to see your GP, not something to work around.
If you’ve been living with something for a long time because it seemed normal, it may be worth asking yourself:
- When did I last really look at this, or mention it to anyone?
- Has it changed, even slowly?
- Have I ever asked a doctor about it, or have I just learned to live with it?
If any of those questions gives you pause, the most useful next step is a conversation with your GP. Seek urgent care for sudden swelling with shortness of breath or chest pain.
