Symptoms Of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic medical condition characterized by the development of painful trigger points in the muscles. For individuals who suffer from myofascial pain syndrome, escaping the excruciating symptoms can be quite a challenge. When an individual is suffering from this chronic pain syndrome, they experience deep muscle pain, at times in seemingly unrelated parts of their body. The repetitious movement of a particular muscle, which might occur as a result of a professional activity or hobby, can cause myofascial pain syndrome. Although most individuals have endured muscle pain at one point or another, muscle pain that cannot be managed using standard techniques often indicates the presence of this condition. Let's get to know more about the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome now.

Deep Muscle Pain

Part of being subjected to myofascial pain syndrome is experiencing deep, aching muscle pain when a particular trigger point has pressure applied to it. However, what makes this condition especially complicated to treat is the fact sometimes the pain that occurs as a result of pushing on a pressure point will be in a different area of the body than the pressure point itself! This is what is called referred pain, because the pain that occurs is referred from the pressure point. Referred pain is one of the characteristics used to differentiate the conditions of chronic myalgia from myofascial pain syndrome.

Keep reading to learn more about the indicators of myofascial pain syndrome.

Pain Preventing Sleep

An individual's inability to fall or remain asleep is referred to as insomnia, and this is one of the most common symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome. Research shows more than sixty percent of patients suffering from myofascial pain syndrome also have troubles falling or staying asleep, often due to the pain caused by their condition, entrapping the patient in a vicious cycle of increased fatigue and poor quality of sleep. In turn, the lack of sleep and non-restorative sleep makes it more difficult for the body to fight the painful symptoms associated with myofascial pain syndrome.

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Tender Knots In Muscles

Myofascial trigger points are one of the most common causes of pain. Trigger points are areas of muscles that are tender to the touch and are characterized by taut muscle fibers and the generation of referred pain. There are two phases after the formation of a trigger point: active and latent. The active phase causes unrelenting pain typically described by sufferers as deep pain, dull ache, pressuring pain, or burning pain. A latent trigger point can be present for years after an apparent recovery from an injury. Although they aren't as tender, latent trigger points can restrict movement and cause muscle weakness in patients with myofascial pain syndrome.

In most instances, the muscles in the human body make up roughly forty percent of a person’s total weight. This translates into a large amount of potentially active and latent trigger points, as well as a broad spectrum of possible locations where those triggers might result in a tender knot in muscles. An example is when your head hurts because of the application of pressure to the trapezius muscle near the apex of your shoulder. In addition to repetitive motion, poor posture can sometimes be a contributing factor to myofascial pain syndrome. Interestingly, while there are so many muscles in the body, there is no specific area of medical study devoted to specializing in muscle treatment.

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Persistent Pain

Persistent pain caused by myofascial pain syndrome is sometimes the result of one trigger point, but other times it is the result of many. The persistence of trigger points can lead to changes in the body resulting in the worsening pain (central sensitization) that spreads beyond the initial pressure point. Thus, an individual suffering from this chronic pain condition will experience more and more pain over time unless it is treated.

It is not entirely understood why pain in one part of one’s muscles is caused by pressure being applied in another. What is clear, however, is one of the characteristics of myofascial pain syndrome is unrelenting pain. When a patient has been experiencing this type of pain on an ongoing basis, they require special treatment to help mitigate symptoms. Living with consistent chronic pain is not merely a burden, it is an insurmountable obstacle that can create a major traffic jam on the highway of life. Fortunately, there is a roadmap available that can guide patients toward relief.

Keep reading for more information on symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome.

Worsening Pain

As a patient continues to experience the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome, their pain may be worsening every day. In some cases, their pain may even develop into complex regional pain syndrome, which can make an already difficult to handle situation completely impossible. Fortunately, advances are being made in the study of muscles and how to adequately treat chronic pain. As medical studies of muscles gather more data about why pressure points in one area can cause pain in another, the treatment of persistent pain will hopefully improve. Living with chronic pain is a fate to which no one deserves to be subjected. If you are experiencing persistent or worsening pain, you may be dealing with a condition requiring medical treatment.

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What Exacerbates The Pain Symptoms

It is clear pain is the hallmark symptom of myofascial pain syndrome. It's even part of the name of the condition! It is important to note, however, there are certain things that can exacerbate the pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome in significant ways. The two biggest factors, of course, are activity and stress. Now, physicalactivitycan exacerbate any kind of pain, even something not linked to this condition, as physical activity can result in muscle strain, worsened injuries, and more. On the other hand, stress doesn't worsen pain in the same way as physical activity does, though it can be just as bad when it comes to myofascial pain syndrome. This is because stress can act as a trigger point for the pain, worrying about encountering a trigger for the pain may actually cause pain, and worry about what is causing the patient's myofascial pain syndrome can simply make things worse.

Keep reading to learn more about what to watch for with myofascial pain syndrome.

Depression

Many individuals with chronic pain, including myofascial pain syndrome, often end up with depression or similar mental health issues. Depression often stems from instances of chronic pain as patients wonder when or even if the pain is going to end, why it is happening to them, and similar thoughts. Dealing with chronic pain is quite challenging, and when things get particularly hard, patients often been to question if their life is too challenging, hence experiencing feelings of depression. If depression hits as a symptom of myofascial pain syndrome, it is important to seek the appropriate treatment for it as well as methods of safely managing the pain. Depression treatment can include therapy as well as medication, should a physician recommend it.