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Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Muscle Pain)

Myofascial pain syndrome (Muscle Pain) refers to any inflammation or pain within the body's soft tissues. MPS can involve one single muscle or it can involve a group of muscles. Diagnosing can be tricky because the pain area may not be the same location as where the pain generator is at. Most experts think the actual location of the injury can cause the development of the pain trigger point. This, in turn, causes the sensation of pain in some other area.

Causes of Myofascial Pain

Common causes for muscle pain include: stress, tension, overuse of the muscle, and minor injuries. For these types of pain the pain is localized, only affecting one muscle or one specific part of the body. This is different from systemic muscle pain in which the pain goes throughout the body. For most, this is usually the result of infection, or of an illness like fibromyalgia. It can also be caused by some medications. Other possible causes include:
  • General forms of fatigue
  • Injuries to inter-vertebral disc
  • Repetitive motions
  • Lack of exercise or activity
  • Medical conditions
 

Myofascial Pain Symptoms

Myofascial pain symptoms will normally include muscle pain along with trigger points. In many cases, the level of pain can increase with activity or other forms of stress. For those who have MPS, not only can they suffer from pain associated with the syndrome, but can also suffer with depression, fatigue as well as behavioral disturbances.
 

Diagnosing Myofascial Pain

To identify trigger points pressure is applied to the suspect area. If pain results, it may be MPS. When diagnosing myofascial pain syndrome, doctors look for 4 kinds of trigger points:
  • Active trigger point: This is shown as an area that has extreme tenderness within the deeper skeletal muscle. It is often seen as a local or possibly as a regional pain.
  • Latent trigger point: This is usually an inactive area which can be a potential trigger point later on.
  • Secondary trigger point: This is often a very irritable area within the muscle. It can become active if the muscle is overused.
  • Satellite myofascial point: This can be a highly irritable area within the muscle, and become inactive simply because the suspect muscle is often in a region of a different trigger pain.
 

Myofascial Pain Treatment Options

Minor muscle pain caused by over-exercise, stress, or minor injuries can be treated at home in many cases. For muscle pain caused by severe injuries or caused from systemic disease medical treatments are usually needed.
  • Spray and stretch is often used to treat pain. A cooling spray is applied to the area and then the area is stretched.
  • Physical therapy treatments
  • Massage therapy treatments
  • Injections at the trigger point
 
For long-term myofascial pain, doctors often recommend a combination of treatments. These might include physical therapy sessions, injections at the trigger point site, and massage. For some patients, additional medication is needed in order to treat other conditions. These might include insomnia and depression.
 

Home care issues

Muscle pain that is caused by overuse or injury can be treated at home with rest to the area along with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You should apply ice to the area for the first two or three days to reduce pain and swelling. Then, you should apply heat which helps pain relief.
 
Muscle pain from stress and fibromyalgia will often respond to massage therapy. Also, smooth, gentle stretching can help to reduce pain and prevent future episodes of pain.
 
It is important to get enough sleep. You can also reduce stress with yoga and meditation. These can help you relax.
 
If the above do not take care of the problem, see your doctor. He or she may need to prescribe stronger medications or refer you to a professional therapist.