What Is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

By kara

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. Myofascial Pain Syndrome [n.d.]. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myofascial-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-203754442.
• 2. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Understanding Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia [Dec. 1, 2017], https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-understanding-myofascial-pain-syndrome-and-fibromyalgia/
• 3. Myofascial Pain Syndrome [n.d.]. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12054-myofascial-pain-syndrome/diagnosis-and-tests

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Everyone has muscle pain from time to time. Usually that pain goes away as your muscles heal from the injury or stress that caused the discomfort. Sometimes, however, your pain sticks around and becomes chronic. If you’re experiencing persistent muscle pain, you may be suffering from myofascial pain syndrome, or chronic, aching muscle pain that worsens with pressure to sensitive areas known as trigger points.¹Myofascial Pain Syndrome [n.d.]. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myofascial-pain-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-203754442.

In many cases, uncertainty and anxiety can worsen your experience of chronic pain. If you’ve been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome, learning more about your condition can be a helpful tool in managing your symptoms and improving your understanding of what’s going on inside your body.

1. Causes

Myofascial pain syndrome is generally a result of injury or prolonged strain to a muscle. In most cases, your body responds to this type of stressor by repairing any damage to your muscle, allowing it to function effectively and painlessly, as it did before the injury.

In some cases, however, collections of sensitive, tight muscle fibers collect in the damaged muscle to form what is known as a trigger point, or a localized area of acute sensitivity. When pressure is applied to that trigger point, someone with myofascial pain syndrome will experience either localized muscle pain or referred pain in a remote part of the body.²Mayo Clinic Q and A: Understanding Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia [Dec. 1, 2017], https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-understanding-myofascial-pain-syndrome-and-fibromyalgia/