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Our user asked: "Is it normal/typical for the opposite side of the body to exhibit problems after a regimen of therapy has been applied to the original problem site? MAIN QUESTION: WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON FOR THIS? My sister had a neck/shoulder/arm nerve problem on HER right side for which she was in therapy about 3-4 weeks. now toward the end when things are much better, she started feeling the same type of problem on the left side of her neck/shoulder (though not nearly to the same extent). Her P.T. told her this was somewhat common, but she can't remember the reason WHY, and now she's just discouraged and will not return to therapy."
Ask a PT Response: "What did the physical therapist diagnose your sister with? For example, with a discogenic syndrome in the cervical spine it would be common for the patient to have the pain centralize in the neck and no longer experience radiating pain into the shoulder/arm. The therapist will continue to work with the patient to then have the centralize pain at the neck dissipate.
The development of pain on the unaffected side could be due to a number of other factors ie, overcompensation of the unaffected side, poor posture/mechanics, a disc bulging to the other side, etc. Her therapist will be able to better determine what could be contributing to the onset of this new pain. I would advise your sister to not be discouraged. If her therapist was able to help her with alieving the pain on her right side, he or she should be able to help her with her left side as well."
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