The Importance of A Proper Diagnosis

In the age of the internet and with the challenges of navigating healthcare in America, I’ve been thinking about how crucial a proper diagnosis is.

Let’s face it—our healthcare system can be tough. Appointments often take months to schedule, and when the day finally comes, the visit often feels rushed. You leave with unanswered questions and the same nagging symptoms. So, where do many of us turn for answers? The internet.

Honestly, I get it. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and it feels empowering to take matters into our own hands. But here’s the thing: while the internet has all the information we could ever need, it’s only useful if we’re looking at the right information.

This is why a proper diagnosis matters so much. These are two common examples I see:

• If I search for exercises to help with bladder leakage and find suggestions to do kegels, but my issue stems from tight pelvic floor muscles, kegels won’t fix the problem—they might even make it worse.

  
  

• If I’m experiencing sciatica symptoms but focus on core-strengthening exercises because I assume it’ll help my back pain, I’m not addressing the root cause. Core strengthening isn’t the first step for sciatica, so my symptoms likely won’t improve.

It’s no surprise we go this route. Looking up exercises online feels easier and faster than scheduling an appointment, taking time off work, and dealing with the whole process. But here’s what I see time and again: patients come to me after weeks (or months) of doing the wrong exercises. Often, they’ve unknowingly been targeting the wrong muscles or addressing a different issue entirely. As a result, they’ve delayed their recovery.

I want to stress—this isn’t a judgment. We all do this. But here’s my advice:

If you’re not noticing improvement within a week or two, it’s time to see a professional.

Getting expert guidance can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Sometimes, what feels like a shortcut only sets us back further.

This video gives more detail of what I am talking about.

If you need help with a pelvic floor problem, schedule an appointment with me.

You can also take my free online bladder intro class as a place to start if you have bladder problems.