Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
متلازمة الألم اللفافي العضلي
Myofascial pain syndrome involves muscles and surrounding connective tissue, with tender points that may refer pain elsewhere. Assessment relies on examination and considering other causes.
What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Pain may involve the neck, shoulder or back and disturb movement or sleep. This differs from widespread fibromyalgia; a painful knot alone does not establish the diagnosis.
Related reading: Fibromyalgia as a different pain condition.
Symptoms
Deep aching, tightness, stiffness and tender points that reproduce a pain pattern can occur. Comfortable movement may become limited and discomfort may disrupt sleep.
Causes
The precise cause remains uncertain. Muscle injury, repeated loading, strained postures and stress may contribute, with tenderness persisting after the original injury improves.
Risk factors
Repeated loading, injuries, stress and inactivity may contribute. An individualized examination remains necessary; the syndrome does not explain every form of body pain.
Diagnosis
The clinician examines muscles, movement and nerve function alongside the history. No single blood test confirms the syndrome; additional testing addresses suspected alternatives.
Treatment
Care commonly begins with education, graded movement and tailored physical therapy. Medicines or trigger-point procedures may be considered, with varying evidence and benefits.
Complications
Chronic pain can impair sleep, activity and work. Functional goals and reassessment when symptoms change help guide care and avoid overlooking another diagnosis.
Prevention
Vary physical loads, take breaks from repetitive tasks and adjust work and sleep positions. Increase exercise gradually and avoid aggressive self-pressure or self-needling.
When to see a doctor
Seek assessment for persistent or activity-limiting pain. New weakness, increasing numbness, fever or a major injury needs prompt evaluation rather than assuming simple muscle pain.