"I have been suffering with myofascial pain syndrome my entire life and only recently found the right treatment for it. When my pain starts acting up, I will visit my chiropractor, who selectively works on my spine and gives me dry-needling in my muscles. This is extremely painful after a session; however, once the pain disappears, the myofascial pain decreases. I also simultaneously visit a physiotherapist who works on my trigger points. I have found that this combined therapy has helped me tremendously."
"I began to suffer from myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) three years ago. My condition is extremely debilitating if not treated and occurs in muscle tissue almost all over my body from my head to lower legs. At first, I received injections for the most painful muscle knots, which were effective, but since I suffered from about 60 knots, it was not very practical. I then discovered ultrasound treatments and lived with my ultrasound machine for a couple of years. This was effective for relieving the muscle knots, but as I am physically active, I could hardly keep up with their reformation. Last year, I discovered a product called Soothanol X2 that I found to be extremely effective and quick at relieving the symptoms. I can live a very active lifestyle and quickly relieve my pain as it arises. "
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Introduction
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a fancy way to describe muscle pain. It
refers to pain and inflammation in the body's soft tissues.
Myofascial pain is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective
tissue that covers the muscles). Myofascial pain syndrome may involve either a
single muscle or a muscle group. In some cases, the area where a person
experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located.
Experts believe that the actual site of the injury or the strain prompts the
development of a trigger point that, in turn, causes pain in other areas. This
situation is known as referred pain.
What causes myofascial pain?
Myofascial pain may develop from a muscle injury or from excessive strain on
a particular muscle or muscle group, ligament or tendon. Other causes
include:
Injury to intervertebral disc
General fatigue
Repetitive motions
Medical conditions (including heart attack, stomach irritation)
Lack of activity (such as a broken arm in a sling)
What are the symptoms of myofascial pain?
Myofascial pain symptoms usually involve muscle pain with specific
"trigger" or "tender" points. The pain can be made worse with
activity or stress. In addition to the local or regional pain associated with
myofascial pain syndrome, people with the disorder also can suffer from
depression, fatigue and behavioral disturbances.
How is myofascial pain diagnosed?
Trigger points can be identified by pain that results when pressure is
applied to an area of a person's body. In the diagnosis of myofascial pain
syndrome, four types of trigger points can be distinguished:
An active trigger point is an area of extreme tenderness
that usually lies within the skeletal muscle and which is associated with a
local or regional pain.
A latent trigger point is a dormant (inactive) area that
has the potential to act like a trigger point.
A secondary trigger point is a highly irritable spot in a
muscle that can become active due to a trigger point and muscular overload in
another muscle.
A satellite myofascial point is a highly irritable spot in
a muscle that becomes inactive because the muscle is in the region of another
trigger pain.
Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome) - Effective TreatmentsQuestion: What treatments have been effective for your muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome)?
Fibromyalgia, formerly
known as fibrositis, causes chronic pain, stiffness, and
tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia patients have an unusually low pain threshold. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, abnormal sleep, mental/emotional disturbances, abdominal pain, migraine and tension headaches, and irritable bladder. Treatment of fibromyalgia involves patient education, medication, exercise, and stress reduction.
Dengue fever is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of dengue include headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, rash, and swollen glands. Since dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine to treat it. Treatment instead focuses on relieving the symptoms.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary
artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical
instability of the heart.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Potassium is an essential electrolyte necessary for cell function. Low potassium (hypokalemia) may be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, ileostomy, colon polyps, laxative use, diuretics, elevated corticosteroid levels, renal artery stenosis, and renal tubular acidosis, or other medications. Symptoms of low potassium include weakness, aches, and cramps of the muscles. Treatment is dependant upon the cause of the low potassium (hypokalemia).
Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick, spiral, comminuted, transverse, compound, or vertebral compression. Common fractures include: stress fracture, compression fracture, rib fracture, and skull fracture. Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that lasts 6 months or longer, is not improved by bed rest, and may be worsened by physical or mental activity.
An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, and an injury to muscle or tendon is called a strain. Sprains and strains may be caused by repetitive movements or a single stressful incident. Symptoms include pain and swelling. Though treatment depends upon the extent and location of the injury, rest, ice, compression, and elevation are key elements of treatment.
Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning; or unrefreshing sleep. Secondary insomnia is the most common type of insomnia. Treatment for insomnia include lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.
Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, drug abuse, and more. Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an infectious disease that's transmitted by the bite of a tick infected with the Rickettsia rickettsii bacterial organism. Initial symptoms of RMSF include fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and severe headache. Later symptoms include rash, abdominal pain, joint pain, and diarrhea. Treatment usually involves a tetracycline antibiotic.
Polio is caused by the poliovirus and is spread through person-to-person contact. In non-paralytic polio, patients experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat, and vomiting. In paralytic polio, symptoms include difficulty swallowing and breathing, headache, mood swings, muscle pains and spasms, and paralysis. There is no cure for polio, so treatment focuses on alleviating the symptoms. In 1955, a polio vaccine was developed.
Bug bites and stings have been known to transmit insect-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease. Though most reactions to insect bites and stings are mild, some reactions may be life-threatening. Preventing bug bites and stings with insect repellant, wearing the proper protective attire, and not wearing heavily scented perfumes when in grassy, wooded, and brushy areas is key.
Natural menopause is the permanent ending of menstruation that is not brought on by any type of medical treatment. For women undergoing natural menopause, the process is described in three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
However, not all women undergo natural menopause. Some women experience induced menopause as a result of surgery or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy and pelvic radiation therapy.
Small chemicals in the body known as electrolytes are crucial for cells
to function. Potassium is one of the main electrolytes, and is concentrated
within the cells of the body. Only 2% of the body's total potassium is available
in the serum (the fluid part of the bloodstream that is not red or white blood
cells or platelets). Small changes in the serum levels of potassium can affect body
function. One of the important functions of potassium is maintenance of the cell
electrical potential. The serum bathes the cells, and if the serum potassium
level falls, cells with high electrical activity (for example, muscles and nerves) are
particularly affected.
Normal potassium levels measured in the serum range from
3.5 to 5.0 mEq/liter. Normal daily intake of potassium is 70-100 mEq (270 to 390
mg/dl), and requires the kidneys to remove that same amount each day. If more is
removed, the body's total potassium store will be decre...
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