Myofascial pain syndrome is a disorder characterized by chronic muscular pain. “Fascial” refers not to the face, but to the fascia, which is the tissue that lines the muscles. Myofascial pain syndrome is generally located in a specific spot, characterized by soreness of a muscle or muscle group. Here’s a look at some common treatments for myofascial pain syndrome.
Physical Therapy
Myofascial pain syndrome can be brought on by underlying medical disorders, such as anemia or hypothyroidism, but also through strain or repetitive activities. While overworked muscle pain generally gets better with time, the tenderness of myofascial pain syndrome actually gets worse. You may even notice the sensation of a “knot” in the muscle. One of the main aspects of myofascial pain syndrome is a trigger point: one spot amongst the muscle or muscle group, generally the site where the trauma or strain occurred, triggers pain throughout the rest of the area. This pain is called referred pain.
Experts find one of the most effective ways to treat the pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome is through physical therapy. The goal of physical therapy is not only to relieve the pain, but also to strengthen the muscles, increase flexibility, and improve overall posture. In this way, it can actually help prevent further pain by teaching you better ways to move. As an alternative, occupational therapy provides a means of replacing repetitive activities required in the workplace with less detrimental means.
Your physical therapist may recommend a variety of activities that may be effective for myofascial pain syndrome. In addition to stretching and muscle building, massage techniques are sometimes used. Applying heat to the muscle or muscle group, whether through a hot shower or a heating pad, can help relax the muscle. Ultrasound therapy involves the use of sound waves (much like ultrasound imaging technology) to stimulate blood flow and create a sensation of warmth to help encourage healing in the muscles.
Additional Treatments
In some cases, physical therapy alone may not be sufficient enough to manage the pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome. If this is the case, your physical therapist may recommend including certain medications or injections in your treatment plan as well. This might be something as simple as taking over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (such as naproxen sodium or ibuprofen). Antidepressants are sometimes used to help diminish pain -- as well as helping to control psychological issues that sometimes occur comorbidly with myofascial pain syndrome. Sedatives, such as the benzodiazepine clonazepam, can be used to relax muscle groups and make sleep easier to achieve. This is extremely important, as sleep deprivation is not only a common symptom of myofascial pain syndrome, but also seems to be an inciting factor in some cases.
Trigger point injection therapy involves an injection of anesthesia directly into the trigger point the pain radiates from to help diminish discomfort. Alternatively, dry needling takes out the anesthesia aspect; a needle is simply injected into the trigger point, and some people find this quite effective at diminishing referred pain. Likewise, acupuncture is a great tool for myofascial pain syndrome. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about the best treatment methods for you.
