By Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
It’s frustrating when your MRI or other imaging shows no clear injury, yet you still experience pain that limits your daily activities—whether sitting, lifting, or walking. If you’ve been told “there’s nothing wrong,” but your body tells a different story, you’re not alone.
This is a common situation where the pain you feel is functional rather than structural. In other words, the problem isn’t always visible on scans because it involves how your nervous system, muscles, and other tissues are working—or not working—together.
Understanding Structural vs. Functional Pain
- Structural pain comes from clear physical damage such as fractures, herniated discs, or inflammation visible on MRI or X-ray. This is often easier to diagnose and treat.
- Functional pain arises from problems like muscle imbalances, nervous system dysregulation, poor posture, or ergonomic stress that aren’t seen on imaging but still cause significant discomfort.
When functional issues persist, the body can become stuck in patterns of tension, inflammation, and altered movement that amplify pain signals even without ongoing tissue damage.
Why Functional Pain Can Be So Challenging
- Nervous system sensitization: The nerves become hyper-reactive and interpret normal signals as painful.
- Muscle guarding and weakness: Overuse of some muscles and underuse of others cause imbalances and joint strain.
- Poor ergonomics and repetitive strain: Workstation setup, repetitive motions, or bad posture can worsen symptoms.
- Chronic inflammation: Even if no injury is detected, systemic inflammation can increase pain sensitivity.
Traditional imaging doesn’t capture these nuances, so many patients are left without answers or effective treatment plans.
How Functional Medicine Addresses Persistent Pain
Functional Medicine takes a holistic approach by assessing the whole body and lifestyle factors contributing to pain. This may include:
- Comprehensive functional lab testing for inflammation, hormones, and nutrient status
- Personalized nutrition and anti-inflammatory strategies
- Nervous system calming techniques and movement therapies
- Ergonomic assessment and guidance to prevent further strain
- Stress management tools to reduce cortisol and improve healing
By addressing both the physical and systemic contributors, we can break the cycle of persistent pain and restore function.
Your Next Step
If your MRI is “clean” but the pain remains, don’t settle for unanswered questions. A detailed evaluation can uncover hidden factors and create a personalized recovery plan.
Initial Functional Health Consultation: $25.00
Click here to book your session
For patients needing support with their work or home setups, ergonomic evaluations can also be coordinated to reduce mechanical stress.
Contact Info:
Rosie Moore, DNP, RN, LEHP, LNC, BC-FMP
Doctor of Nursing Practice | Functional Medicine Nurse Consultant
Serving Orlando and Central Florida
Phone: 407-760-1662
Email: rosie@jrmnurseconsultants.com
Website: www.jrmnurseconsultants.com
