Overview
Where are you experiencing symptoms?
Choose the body region you would like to know more about. Do you already know your diagnosis or are you looking for a particular examination? You can also use the topic search or go directly to bone health.
Do you think you may have a sprain? Start by choosing the affected body region. Your selection helps you find relevant information; it does not establish a diagnosis.
Open individual sections or all the details on this page.
Understanding your symptoms
Finding the right starting point
You may be able to describe quite precisely what you find difficult without knowing the medical term for it. Your shoulder keeps you awake at night. You feel a pulling pain in your back when you get up. Your knee needs a few steps before it moves more freely again. You do not need to assign these observations to a diagnosis before looking for information or seeking help.
Start with the body region that concerns you. There you can learn about common symptoms, their possible causes and when an appointment may be helpful. Bone health and osteoporosis have their own dedicated route.
Where do you notice the change?
In the body navigator, select the head and neck, shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist, back and spine, hip and groin, knee, or foot and ankle. Your selection helps you find relevant information. It does not establish which structure is actually affected.
On each page, we describe symptoms that can occur in that area and observations that may help with the examination. For example, if pain travels from your back into your leg, that pattern is important too. The place where you feel pain is not necessarily where it originates.
If several areas are affected, start with the one that limits you most. When you contact us, please also describe your other symptoms. We consider this information together.
Bone health and osteoporosis
A question about bone strength often does not fit a particular point on a body diagram. Perhaps you have been taking corticosteroids for some time, have broken a bone after a minor fall or would like to understand a bone density result. A medical assessment can be useful even without symptoms.
Under ‘Bone health and osteoporosis’, you will find information about your personal risk and the options for assessment. From there, you can explore osteoporosis, DXA bone density scans or our specialist osteology service. This route is just as important as the routes through the individual body regions.
Further information
How to prepare for your consultation
Your own description is valuable for the assessment.
- How long have you had the symptoms?
- Was there an accident or an unfamiliar activity or strain?
- What can you still do comfortably in the morning but find more difficult as the day goes on?
Details like these help us narrow down the problem.
The effect on your life matters too. Pain during sport and feeling unsteady with every step call for different decisions. If your symptoms make you avoid activities, disturb your sleep or leave you worried about lasting limitations, please tell us. You do not need to play down your situation or make it sound particularly dramatic.
What you can learn from these pages
These pages aim to help you understand medical terms and possible next steps. They explain which questions an examination can answer and why treatment is chosen only after your symptoms have been assessed.
Similar symptoms alone do not establish a reliable diagnosis. A swollen knee, for example, can have several different causes. The information therefore does not replace a personal consultation and examination. It can, however, help you ask more focused questions and better understand a finding.
If you already have a diagnosis or recommendation
If you already have a medical letter with a diagnosis, you can go directly to ‘Conditions’ on our website. You do not need to choose a body region first. There, we explain what the condition means and the decisions that commonly arise.
If an examination or treatment has been recommended, ‘Diagnosis & treatment’ is the right place to start. Perhaps you want to understand what DXA measures or what ACP and PRP involve. It is reasonable to have questions about a recommendation. The information there aims to give you a useful foundation for your next consultation with us.
Together, we establish which examination or treatment is suitable for you personally. A recommendation in an earlier report is important information that we consider alongside your current symptoms and examination.
If you are still unsure
You do not need to work through all the information before contacting our practice. Under ‘Appointments & enquiries’, describe what you are finding difficult and how long it has been happening. Existing reports may be useful. The first priority is to help us understand your concern and identify the appropriate next step.
When assessment should not wait
Some symptoms need prompt attention. New paralysis, a serious injury or a sudden marked deterioration require immediate medical assessment. If symptoms are life-threatening, call 112. For urgent symptoms that are not life-threatening, contact your GP practice during its opening hours; outside those hours, Germany’s medical on-call service is available on 116117. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an online reception reply if you have severe acute symptoms.
The warning signs on the individual symptom pages can help you decide what to do. A routine online enquiry is not suitable for an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
What should I choose if several body regions are affected?
Start with the area where your symptoms are most troublesome, and mention any other affected areas when you contact us. This helps you find your way through the information. During your consultation, we start with the symptoms that matter most to you.
I have pain even though my imaging was normal. Is this still the right place to start?
Yes. Symptoms cannot always be explained by an X-ray or MRI scan alone. How they develop, the physical examination and the difficulties you experience remain important. Bring any existing reports and images to your consultation.
Why is osteoporosis listed alongside the body navigator?
Osteoporosis affects bone strength and cannot be limited to one painful area. It can remain unnoticed for a long time. A dedicated route to information about the condition makes it easier to find what you need even if you have no pain.
Do I need to gather all my records before arranging an appointment?
Existing records are helpful. However, missing reports should not stop you from contacting us about new or worsening symptoms. You can find out what to gather and bring to your appointment on the ‘Your first visit’ page, under ‘Bring existing reports and images’.
Your next step
