What To Know About Myofascial Pain Syndrome
If you suffer from any muscle pain, you know it can significantly reduce your quality of life. Apart from the unpleasant pain, it can also get in the way of doing sports or other physical activities and create a general inconvenience.
For people with myofascial pain syndrome, pain can become a regular part of their life. While it’s not certain exactly what causes it, one thing is for sure, people need relief. Chronic pain can be debilitating and isolating, but the first step to managing the pain is to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.
To learn more about myofascial pain syndrome, its symptoms, and how you can find relief, keep reading.
What Is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition that affects the body’s musculoskeletal system. While muscle pain is a common phenomenon, it usually gets resolved by itself—but that isn’t the case with myofascial pain syndrome.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a disorder of the muscles and the soft tissues associated with it. People with this condition have sensitive pain points or “trigger points” in their muscles that can cause pain in that muscle or even in unrelated parts of the body (referred pain). Although myofascial pain syndrome is often confused with fibromyalgia, it is different.
Trigger points develop in the fascia, the thin, ropey connective tissue that wraps around every muscle. When pressure is applied to these trigger points, it causes pain.
What Is Fascia?
The fascia performs an essential function within your body’s musculoskeletal system—it holds the muscles together, which allows them to stretch and contract. It also allows the muscle fibers, single muscles, and muscle groups to slide against each other without friction, so they don’t tear or get damaged.
Apart from your muscles, the fascia also surrounds and connects all the organs and blood vessels.
What Are Trigger Points?
The pain and tenderness in people with myofascial pain syndrome stem from trigger points. These trigger points can feel like small bumps or knots in the muscle. This knot is several muscle fiber segments in a contracted state within a taut band of muscle. This contraction causes the blood flow to stop, lowering the amount of oxygen the area requires. Additionally, waste materials also build up in these areas. This irritates the trigger point, which reacts by sending a pain signal.
Myofascial trigger points are mainly classified into active and latent trigger points. Active trigger points create pain spontaneously or respond to any movement that could trigger local or referred pain. Conversely, latent trigger points elicit pain or discomfort only in response to compression or some stimuli.
Apart from active and latent trigger points, there are also secondary and satellite trigger points. A secondary trigger point is in a different muscle than the active trigger point, but it can be irritated simultaneously as the functional trigger point. A satellite trigger point is a trigger point that overlaps with another one and is ineffective, so it becomes inactive.
What Is the Difference Between Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia?
Both fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are characterized by muscle pain which is why several people mistake them or even classify them as the same condition. While they resemble each other, specific differences make it essential to recognize the difference and engage with a proper treatment plan.
Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome can share symptoms like chronic muscle pain, fatigue, migraines, and numbness, but the main difference is the localization of pain. Myofascial pain is usually seen in a particular anatomic area, while fibromyalgia is more widespread. Myofascial pain syndrome can also recede, meaning that the pain might only be there for a short time, but fibromyalgia is nearly always a chronic condition.
Finally, myofascial pain syndrome comes from trigger points in the muscles, while fibromyalgia comes from tender points.
What Are the Symptoms of Myofascial Pain?
Different people experience myofascial syndrome in different ways depending on the intensity of their condition. For some, the pain can flare up suddenly, but for others, it can be a dull pain that is permanently in the background. The most common symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome are:
● Pain. People with this condition usually describe the pain as a deep and throbbing pain with tightness and stiffness in the muscle. The pain can be spontaneous or aggravated and localized or referred.
● Trigger points. Small bumps, nodules, or knots in the muscle can cause pain and tenderness when touched and sometimes without being touched.
● Twitch response. Compression can elicit a twitch response over the areas where the trigger points are located.
● Muscle tightness. When stretching, people with myofascial pain syndrome may experience a restricted range of motion and sensitivity and soreness.
● Local myasthenia. While there is no noticeable atrophy, the muscles with the trigger points can be susceptible to weakening.
Additionally, people with this syndrome usually develop other health conditions like:
● Headaches or migraines
● Insomnia
● Depression
● Fatigue
Where Does Myofascial Pain Commonly Affect People?
Trigger points can develop anywhere in the body, but some areas have increased prevalence, such as the upper back, shoulder, and neck muscles.
What Causes Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
There is no specific cause behind myofascial pain syndrome; however, several theories are being tested. One of the potential causes behind this syndrome is central sensitization, which causes people to perceive even normal stimuli as painful.
Some common causes of myofascial pain syndrome include:
● Muscle injury or strain.
● Muscle weakness (from lack of use).
● Poor posture.
● Cold weather
● Emotional or mental distress
● Pinched nerves.
● Vitamin deficiency
● Chronic infections
● Genetic factors
Myofascial pain syndrome can affect anyone at any point in their lives. Research shows the syndrome affects about 85% of people at some point in their lifetime. Myofascial pain syndrome is a highly underdiagnosed disorder since a significant symptom is referred pain, which can easily be misdiagnosed.
What Is the Best Treatment for Myofascial Pain?
Once you receive a diagnosis, you can discuss your treatment options with your doctor. The goal of treatment is to target the trigger points to make them inactive and stretch and strengthen weak muscles.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger Point Injections (TPI) involve injecting the muscle with local anesthetic medication, saline, or cortisone to relax the area. TPIs are a highly effective treatment modality when it comes to inactivating pressure points and relieving pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a standard option to help correct the effects of myofascial pain syndrome, like muscle shortening and tightening. Stretching and massage therapy can help relax the trigger points and correct posture and ergonomics. Common modalities include diathermy and ultrasound therapy and the spray and stretch technique, which involves spraying the muscle with a topical anesthetic and then stretching out the muscle.
Dry Needling
Although it can cause some pain or discomfort, dry needling is one of the quickest ways to inactivate trigger points. The doctor will insert a needle directly into the trigger point and stimulate it to inactivate it and reduce your pain. Some doctors may use acupuncture needles instead of hypodermic needles since they are smaller and less painful.
Can Myofascial Pain Syndrome Be Cured?
There is currently no concrete solution behind the pain mechanism and contributing factors of myofascial pain syndrome, meaning no specific cure for the condition. However, since inflammation is one of the most likely causes, engaging with treatment and making some lifestyle changes can help provide relief.
The first step to take is to see a pain specialist and discuss the changes you can make to live a less painful life. Some options you can consider are:
- Diet. Switching to an anti-inflammatory diet—a Mediterranean diet, for example—can help increase antioxidants and reduce unhealthy carbohydrates since they increase inflammation.
- Exercise. While you don’t need to engage in strenuous physical activity every day, you must get regular movement. Inactive muscles can become deconditioned, which can lead to inflammation. In addition, exercise can increase endorphins, which can help reduce the stress of living with chronic pain.
- Sleep. Getting enough sleep at night can help minimize the pain you experience daily. Focus on doing what you can each day to ensure you sleep better at night.
- Lifestyle changes. Make some simple changes in your daily lifestyle—stop slouching, try yoga and meditation, and get enough vitamin D.
Pain is sometimes unavoidable but know that you can find relief if you’re living with chronic pain. Most pain can be significantly reduced or even eliminated with the proper treatment. To learn more, get in touch with Pain Treatment Centers of America to see how you can best manage your pain. Call us at (844) 215-0731 or find a location near you to get started!
