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.
*MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles). It 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?
1.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:
2.Injury to muscle fibers
3.Repetitive motions
4.Lack of activity (such as having 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?
1.Trigger points can be identified by pain that results when pressure is applied to a specific area of a person's body. In the diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome, two types of trigger points can be distinguished:
2.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.
3.A latent trigger point is a dormant (inactive) area that has the potential to act like a trigger point. It may cause muscle weakness or restriction of movement
*How Is Myofascial Pain Treated?
1.Medications such as non-steroidal anti- inflammatoies, acetaminophen or opioids may be used to treat myofascial pain. Medications for sleep, depression or muscle spasm are sometimes used, as well. Non-drug treatments may include:
2. Acupuncture and Physical therapy
3. "Stretch and spray" technique: This treatment involves spraying the muscle and trigger point with a coolant and then slowly stretching the muscle.
4.“Massage therapy”Deep tissue massage is best for giving attention to certain painful, stiff "trouble spots" in your body. The massage therapist uses slow, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under your skin. Though less rhythmic than other types of massage, deep tissue massage may be therapeutic -- relieving chronic patterns of tension and helping with muscle injuries, such as back sprain.
5.Trigger point injectionTrigger point injection (TPI) may be an option for treating pain in. some patients. TPI is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. Many times, such knots can be felt under the skin. Trigger points may irritate the nerves around them and cause referred pain, or pain that is felt in another part of the body.
6.In some chronic cases of myofascial pain, combinations of physical therapy, trigger point injections, and massage are needed.
Conclusion
There are many good treatments for myofascial pain syndrome. However, not all diseases can be cured and there is also a lack of appropriate treatment methods. Therefore, 80% ~ 90% of the treatment effect can be said to be a complete treatment. The human body always causes pain even if only a small nodule is formed in the fascia. There are several layers of muscles and fascia in the area. So I get pain. If you treat it with acupuncture, intramuscular injection or massage therapy, you can see that the muscles relax and the pain disappears in a short time. It is like an occupational disease that always happens when the place where it is bundled is a lot of work or it is long in a fixed posture. If the human body is long and prolonged, the muscles and fascia will have problems. So when you are always working, stretching or releasing your muscles is a good prevention.