Myofascial pain syndrome is chronic muscle pain caused by trigger points that affect fascia, causing pain in other areas. Symptoms include aches, stiffness, and difficulty sleeping. Treatment includes stretching, massage, and medication. Complications can occur over time, including muscle weakness and an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a form of chronic muscle pain caused by trigger points. Trigger points are small hyperirritable knots of contraction in the muscle that cause pain when touched. Because these trigger points affect fascia — a sheet or band of fibrous tissue that wraps around, separates, and binds muscles, organs, and other soft structures in the body together — this pain can radiate to other areas or cause referred pain or pain in another area. area.
Symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include deep and persistent aches or pains in the muscles, joint or muscle stiffness, muscle tension and sensitivity to touch, palpable lumps or knots, and difficulty sleeping due to the pain. It has been linked to many areas of pain, including but not limited to the jaw, head, neck, pelvis, back, arms and legs.
Myofascial pain syndrome is muscle pain that persists or gets worse over time. It can be caused by some sort of muscle injury, overuse or repetitive stress on the muscles, or stress and anxiety. To properly diagnose this muscle pain, a detailed history and palpation, or sensation, for these tense areas is used. Once trigger points are determined to be the culprit for the pain, manipulation or pressure on or around the area to release muscle contraction can be helpful.
While myofascial pain syndrome isn’t life-threatening, it can cause complications over time. Muscle weakness can occur over time due to inactivity or protection of the muscles due to pain. Lack of sleep due to pain can cause decreased concentration and mental clarity, general irritability, dizziness and symptoms of depression, memory loss, and an increased risk of things like high blood pressure, high blood pressure, and heart disease .
Conservative treatment for myofascial pain syndrome includes a thorough stretching routine and coping strategies to compensate for daily routines that can cause pain. For example, poor posture can contribute to muscle strain in the lower back, and repetitive movements, especially when paired with poor body mechanics, can cause a variety of areas of pain and tightness. By learning proper body mechanics and alternative ways of performing daily activities, you can reduce muscle tension and stress, thereby decreasing this chronic and persistent muscle pain.
Massage techniques can also be very effective in managing myofascial pain syndrome. By targeting trigger point areas with direct pressure on or near the knotted area and using gentle pulling motions to release the constricted fascia, called myofascial release, massage can break up trigger points and reduce pain.
In some cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antidepressants are also helpful. Alternative methods, such as acupuncture, can also help relieve pain. In extreme cases, where the pain and tightness are chronic and unresponsive to other treatment methods, a trigger point injection may be considered. This is where medications, such as steroids or a local anesthetic, are injected into the trigger point to release the tension.
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