Myofascial Pain Syndrome Support Group

I can't give you an "official" difference...just personal experience. No, it's not the same as FMS but the two are usually diagnosed together...I have both.

The "knots" or lumps in your muscles are the Myofacial part...that causes the pain you have. I get some knots in the weirdest places and it is hell to get them to go away sometimes. It can take weeks of massaging (until they become too sore to touch) and heat or menthol type ointments...whatever it takes.

FMS involves having the "tender points" that are used to diagnose FMS and I'm not sure about what they call "trigger points"...if that causes the muscle lumps or not...that is probably why it is so closely related to FMS.

Seems to cause the same FMS type of pain in the muscles.... This is just my personal experience over the past 25 years with both of these issues. I hope others can help you out more.

xoxoxo,
Jennifer

bulldogge thank-you so much, you have helped me out. I did not think about heat for the knots or bumps. And yes they do get quite painfull for me.

Hi Fibonae,

Many years ago I was DX'd with MPS, then later Fibro, then degenerative muscles. So, I agree with bulldogge. Most of the muscles that hurt are the same. Bonnie Pruden myotherapists have worked wonders on the 'knots'. A bag filled with beans (or similar one for $15.00 at walmart) keeps me going at work heated in the microwave.

As to the Fibro, I swear the pain travels. One day its my feet/ankles, the next its my back. Check out the Fibro site also, lots of good suggestions as we all react differently and quite of few of their postings will lead you to websites for everything from home remedies to which drugs they find helpful.

I can't tolerate most of the meds, so their suggestions are very good.

Good Luck!!!!

Thanks Pollybiz,for that info. One more question. I know they don't know what caused fibro. Do they know what caused Myofascial Pain. It can't be hereditary is it?

Hi Fibonae,

The best book to help understand FM and CMP is titled Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain (second edition) by Devin Starlanyl, M.D. She has both FM and CMP. In her book she states that fibromyalgia is a "biochemical disorder". "It occurs as part of a biochemical imbalance..."One reason that FM is so complex is " that a number of biochemical balances in the body are in disarray". On the other hand, myofascial pain is a "neuromuscular condition". Chronic myofascial pain has "trigger points" and FM has "tender points".

According to Dr. Starlanyl, CMP "happens because of mechanical failures-the mechanics of physics, not biochemistry. Due to the nature of trigger points, some of the symptoms may seem to be systemic, but they are not. Initiating events, such as repetitive motion injury, trauma, and illness, can start a cascade of TrPs."

To self treat your trigger points, another book you might want to purchase is The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies.

Like Pollybizz, I've also found a Bonnie Prudden Myotherapist (www.bonnieprudden.com) to be helpful in deactivating my TrPs. After her treatment, I apply moist heat to the treated areas. Then, one or two days after she has deactivated them, I go to an Active Release Therapist (www.activerelease.com) to stretch out the muscles.

Hope you find the therapies that help reduce your pain. Kat

Hi Fibonae,

Welcome. I'm new here too.

I want to tag on to Katy2's reply and suggest that you pick up Starynl's book. I got mine from the library. Meanwhile, you can read exerts at http://www.sover.net/~devstar/

She does a great job at explaining the differences between fibro and CMS. I found her "medical handouts" to be useful too.

Tink

Zingara, thanks I'll check out that website. And welcome to the group.