What Is Myofascial Pain?
We all experience muscle soreness or pain. However, if you are experiencing persistent muscle pain that affects your sleep and everyday routine, it could be myofascial pain.
Around 85% of Americans experience myofascial pain that affects their lifestyle and overall well-being. Learn more about myofascial pain and the treatments to alleviate the persistent pain and recovery.
Myofascial pain syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder where a patient experiences prolonged and extreme muscle pain. The pain can affect the fascia or the connective tissue around the tensed muscle. It usually occurs in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and chest.
Myofascial pain, also known as muscle knots or taut band, has trigger points wherein touching them can cause severe pain to the muscle and even radiate to other parts of the body. The good thing is it often goes away with proper pain management treatment and muscle rehabilitation.
What causes myofascial pain?
There is no scientific evidence that proves the cause of myofascial pain comes. The only known fact is myofascial pain begins from a stimulus of a tight muscle that activates the trigger points. The common cause of tight muscles include:
- Overused muscle or muscle strain
- Injury to muscle, ligaments, and tendons
- Poor posture
- Stress and anxiety
- Moving a stuck muscle due to other health condition like stroke
Symptoms of myofascial pain
What sets myofascial pain from a usual muscle pain are the following symptoms:
- Deep stabbing pain that persists even after a massage, hot compress, or other self-care methods
- Sleeping difficulties due to pain
- Pain caused by touching a trigger point
- A weak feeling on the affected muscle
- Reduced movements due to muscle tension
Due to severe pain, behavioral changes and other complications may arise if myofascial pain is left untreated. These include:
- Sleeping problems
- Tension headaches
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
How pain management treatments and physical therapy can help
Once you’ve been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome, your doctor will hold a series of assessments to provide the best pain management treatment suitable for you. Your medical history, psychological condition, symptoms, and physical exam results will be the basis of your treatment plan.
Physical therapy that involves stretching exercises can help relieve the tight muscle. It usually comes with a counseling session to discuss the right mindset towards pain and the dos and don’ts in managing it in your everyday life. Other pain management treatments include:
- Trigger point injections
- Massage therapy
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
If you’re experiencing persistent muscle pain, you don’t have to go through it alone. Let our team of pain management specialists help you manage and relieve your pain. Hadi Medical Group is a medical practice specializing in myofascial pain management in Brooklyn, Hempstead, Plainview, and Long Beach. We also provide:
- Epidural steroid injection
- Facet joint injection
- Medial branch blocks
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Sacroiliac joint injection
- Spinal cord stimulator
- Kyphoplasty
- PRP therapy
- Ultrasound-guided joint injection
- Physical therapy and other pain management treatments
You can break-free from your myofascial pain. Schedule an appointment now and bring back your active lifestyle with the right pain management treatment for you.