Myofaacial Pain - Know More About It!

Myofascial Pain Syndrome might develop from muscular strain or injury. It might also be caused by general fatigue, injury or damage to intervertebral disks, medical conditions such as stomach irritation or heart attack, repetitive motions and lack of motion or activity in cases such as a broken arm fastened into a sling.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome leads to muscle pain. Since muscles are affected, it causes pain in the upper back, lower back, neck, etc. In general, the pain is asymmetrical as it affects one side of the body more than the other side. Spasms are the common symptoms accompanied by tenderness of different areas. The sleep cycle is disturbed leading to disrupted patterns, restlessness, and fatigue. It hence leads to irritability, anxiety and sometimes, depression if the condition is prolonged.

Medications that are used in the case of Myofascial Pain Syndrome are the antidepressants, sedatives, and analgesics. Antidepressants help in sleep management during a painful condition. Sedatives help in dealing with anxiety related to the condition when it is prolonged. Analgesics help in relieving pain associated with the MPS.

Physical therapies like exercise, massage, posture training, stretching, heating, and ultrasound are significantly useful in managing Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Gentle stretching and light exercises help in easing the pain in the affected area. Working on the improvement of posture and ergonomics helps in strengthening muscles. Massage and application of heat pack help in releasing tense muscles. Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves for increasing blood circulation. Trigger point injection is a needling method for managing the MPS in which a numbing agent is injected into a trigger point for relieving pain. In chronic cases of the MPS, a combination of medications, physical therapies, and trigger point injection is used.