What Is Causing My Pain? (And Why Googling It Can Get Tricky)

January 28, 2026

If you’ve ever felt a new ache and immediately reached for your phone… you’re not alone.

Most of us do it.

We feel pain in one spot — the bottom of the foot, the front of the knee, the outside of the hip, the shoulder — and we want an answer.

So we search:

• “What causes heel pain?”
• “Sharp foot pain in the morning”
• “What helps plantar fasciitis?”

Or maybe a friend says, “Oh I had that — it was plantar fasciitis.”
And that seems logical, because it’s the same location and symptom.

Same pain location = same diagnosis = same treatment… right?

Not always.

Because in the musculoskeletal world, pain is often like a check engine light.

It’s real, it matters, and it’s absolutely a signal —
but it doesn’t always tell you exactly where the problem started.

Pain Location ≠ Pain Cause

Here’s the big idea:

You can feel real pain in one area…
and even have real irritation in that tissue…
…but the root cause may be coming from somewhere else.

That’s because your body is connected — joints, muscles, nerves, and movement patterns all work together. When one area isn’t doing its job well, something else compensates… and eventually something starts to hurt.

Example: “Plantar Fasciitis” (Foot Pain)

Plantar fasciitis is a great example of how pain can show up in the foot even when the root cause starts elsewhere:

• weak hip stability may cause the leg and arch to collapse and overload the fascia
• limited ankle mobility can force the foot to compensate with excessive flattening and pulling
• nerve irritation higher up the chain can refer pain into the heel or arch.

That’s why ice rolling, stretching, and inserts can feel helpful — but often only temporarily — if the underlying movement problem and overload aren’t addressed.

This Is Where Physical Therapy Shines

At New Life Physical Therapy, we help people stop guessing — not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because the internet can only take you so far.

A quick search can tell you:

• common conditions
• anatomy basics
• general treatment ideas

But it can’t tell you:

• why your body is compensating
• what movement pattern is overloading tissue
• what joint is stiff
• what muscle isn’t doing its job
• what your gait mechanics look like

That’s where a full evaluation matters.

We look at the whole system — not just the painful spot — so we can help you get lasting results and return to the things that matter most: work, family life, training, hobbies, and everyday movement without fear.

Direct Access PT = Right Care, Right Time, Right Cost

At New Life PT, we’re a direct access clinic, which means in many cases you can start with us without waiting weeks to “get in the system.”

And PT isn’t just stretching and exercises — you’re working with a highly trained provider who can:

• screen for red flags
• identify when imaging or physician referral is needed
• determine what’s truly musculoskeletal
• build a plan to restore strength and movement

It’s care that’s:
right care, at the right time, for the right cost.

If You’re Googling Your Symptoms… Here’s Your Next Best Step

If you’re currently searching:

• “why does my heel hurt?”
• “how to cure plantar fasciitis fast”
• “what helps foot pain in the morning”

…you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re trying to solve a problem.

But if your pain keeps coming back, spreading, or limiting your life — it’s time to stop guessing.

Let us help you find the root cause.

At New Life Physical Therapy, we don’t just treat pain.

We help you understand it — and build a path back to the life you want to live.