03/08/2026
A diagnosis can provide significant value for people.
For some people, it can legitimise their experience, help them feel believed, provide language for what they are going through and support access to services or care.
When someone asks for a diagnosis, this is often the driver:
Is this serious?
Why is this happening?
How long will this last?
What should I do next?
People's desire for a clear label is part of our sense making instinct.
However, musculoskeletal pain does not always fit neatly into distinct groups or neat diagnostic boxes. We may not be able to confidently identify 1 tissue or structure as the source of someone’s symptoms. Sometimes the most accurate label is broad, which can feel unsatisfying and vague.
Labels can also shape how someone understands their body. They may provide clarity, but they can sometimes increase fear, anxiety, symptom monitoring or unnecessary treatment.
We can't avoid giving a diagnosis and occasionally there can be a clear diagnosis (think acute injury). However, when the presentation is more complex it may be worth understanding what the person hopes the diagnosis will provide, communicating uncertainty honestly and offering an explanation and plan that remain useful.
What do you think people are really trying to understand when they ask for a diagnosis?
