Symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome symptoms

Usually, people who have myofascial pain syndrome have the following signs and symptoms:

• Aching and deep pain in a muscle
• Pain that gets worse and does not get better over time 
• An area of the muscle or “knot” that is very tender
• Trouble sleeping because of pain

Complications

There may be complications associated with myofascial pain syndrome, including:

• Sleeping problems: The pain and discomfort caused by myofascial pain syndrome can cause problems sleeping. People sometimes hit a trigger point and wake up when they turn over in bed, or it may be difficult for people to find a comfortable position in which to sleep. 
• Fibromyalgia:  Some studies suggest that fibromyalgia may result due to myofascial pain syndrome in some cases. Fibromyalgia is a condition that involves chronic and widespread pain. It is thought that the brains of individuals with fibromyalgia gradually become more responsive to pain signals. Some researchers believe myofascial pain syndrome may have a role in this process developing. 

When to see a doctor

If you have persistent muscle pain, make an appointment to see your doctor. Most people have some degree of muscle pain from time to time. However, myofascial pain syndrome is persistent despite self-care like rest, massage, and over-the-counter pain medications, so if your pain intensified despite these treatments, see your physician.

Myofascial pain syndrome diagnosis

If your doctor suspects myofascial pain syndrome, he may apply pressure to your painful muscles, feeling for trigger points. Certain methods of feeling trigger points can bring about specific responses and help diagnose myofascial pain syndrome. For example, muscle twitching may occur if a trigger point is pressed a certain way.
There are many possible causes of muscle pain. Your physician may suggest studies or procedures to rule out causes other than myofascial pain syndrome as the reason for your pain.

Click Here to read about Treatment.