Pain Management: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Muscle Pain)

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• Introduction to myofascial pain
• What causes myofascial pain?
• What are the symptoms of myofascial pain?
• How is myofascial pain diagnosed?
• How is myofascial pain treated?
• Patient Discussions: Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome) - Effective Treatments

Featured patient discussions on myofascial pain "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. " Read all myofascial pain comments » Top Searched Myofascial Pain Terms: diet, chronic, causes, treating, diagnosis, medication, tissue injury, symptoms, trigger points Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

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 Treatments

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