Myofascial Pain – Diagnosis and Treatment

Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition. It affects the musculoskeletal system. Pressure on sensitive points in the muscles causes pain and inflammation.

Pain in the trigger points of the muscle causes pain in unrelated parts of the body. This is known as referred pain. When a muscle is contracted repeatedly, the myofascial pain syndrome occurs. The discomfort associated with this pain often worsens with time.

Fascia is the soft tissue that covers and connects all muscles. Myofascial pain is a chronic pain caused by inflammation in the connective tissues. Dr. Raju Mantena is a pain management specialist with years of experience in treating myofascial pain.

360 Pain Treatment will provide you the relief you seek from chronic pain. The holistic treatment plan reduces the pain and enables patients to get back to their normal routine within no time.

Symptoms

The symptoms of myofascial pain include:

• Aching deep pain in localized areas of the muscles.
• Pain that worsens or persists. The pain worsens when the affected muscle is strained or stressed.
• Painful and tender knot in the muscle. When pressed it produces referred or localized pain.
• Stiff, inflexible and weak muscles.
• Reduced range of motion due to pain in the muscles.
• Difficulty sleeping due to persistent pain.
• Causes and Risk Factors

Muscle trauma or injury, muscle overuse or psychological stress is often the cause of myofascial pain. The combination of contributing factors that trigger myofascial pain include:

• Obesity
• Poor posture
• Lack of sleep
• Injury to the musculoskeletal system
• Intense cooling of muscles
• Lack of movement or exercise

Diagnosis

A physical exam is performed by the pain management specialist to determine the myofascial trigger points. The different types of trigger points that the doctor may find include active trigger points, latent trigger points, and secondary trigger point.

Treatment

Treatment for myofascial pain syndrome includes medications, therapy, and trigger point injections.

Medications

Medications for myofascial pain include pain relievers, antidepressants, and sedatives. The medications are helpful in relieving pain.

Therapy

Based on the symptoms, the physical therapist will devise a customized treatment plan to relieve pain.

• Massage - Muscle massage releases tension and relieves pain. The different types of massages that help relax the trigger points include active and passive rhythmic release, trigger point pressure release, and acupressure.

• Stretching Exercises - Gentle stretching exercises will help ease the pressure on the affected muscle. This helps in relaxing the different trigger points.

• Posture Training - Improving posture will help relieve myofascial pain (especially in the neck). Correct posture will strengthen the muscles around the trigger points.

• Heat and Ice Packs - Applying heat and ice packs will help relieve muscle tension and pain.

Trigger Point Injections

Steroid or numbing agent is injected into the trigger points. The technique known as dry needling involves inserting a needle in and around the trigger points.

Dr. Raju Mantena uses the latest advances in pain management. The innovative pain management therapies such as 360 Pain Treatment is customized to meet the specific needs of each patient. The treatment ensures that patients experience maximum comfort. This enables them to recover faster with fewer complications.