Yes Mps is totally different for fibro. Mps is usually accompanied by raised areas in shoulders/wrist. As well as knots in shoulders/back/neck/etc. The trigger points refer pain to other areas of the body when touched. Go to MPS group on DS to learn more:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Myofascial-Pain-Syndrome/support-group

I think the best thing to do if you think you have myofascial pain is to start looking for active trigger points related to some place you're currently in pain. If you find some, massage them and see if it helps. Unfortunately it isn't that easy as you can have satellite trigger points that are being controlled by another one elsewher that might not be related to that muscle, but overall, it shouldn't be too hard to determine if some of your pain is myofascial in nature.

Triggerpoints.net has the most extensive set of myofascial trigger point and referred pain diagrams I've come across online, and is pretty self-explanatory. That should give you an easy place to start without investing any money. For a more complete discussion, check out triggerpointbook.com. This book is worth it's weight in gold if you have myofascial pain!! It's made my life bearable.

Since trigger points can manifest in almost an unlimited number of ways, check out this article by Devin Starlanyl, an ER doctor who also has fibro:

http://homepages.sover.net/~devstar/phsympt.htm

I've had myofascial pain going on 40 years now and have never had any joint swelling associated with it. It's never been red or had a rash either so if you've got that, there's something else going on.

My experience with myofascial pain is that I can have pain virtually any place on my body caused by an active trigger point. Some of the more memorable manifestations are listed below:

--Diagnosed with asthma as I couldn't catch my breath--felt like I had been running in below freezing temperatures. Caused by trigger points in my upper chest.

--Had a severe headache in the lower back of my head for almost 8 years straight that felt like my skull was fractured and my head was too heavy for my neck. Caused by a trigger point in a muscle in the neck. Headache gone within a half hour and never been a problem since.

--Would have my teeth hurt one varying sides for days on end. It wasn't just one tooth but the whole side so I knew it wasn't caused by cavities. Caused by trigger points in the jaw muscle.

--When I would go into a flare, my neck, shoulder and back would start to ache so I assumed I had a cold [wasn't diagnosed at this time and had flu-like symptoms as well] was settling in my back. The last time it happened [before I learned trigger point massage], the entire area was frozen to the point I couldn't turn my head--had to turn my entire body. Lasted for a week!! Every bit of the pain was caused by active trigger points. Now when something starts bothering me, I massage it and can usually get the pain back under control.

--Tons of pain in my hips and thighes. Legs used to throb when a storm was moving in. That was my first symptom when I was almost 15 years old. Again, caused my numerous trigger points in the back [for the hips/butt] and thighes.

--Wrist, hand and thumb pain to the point I was sure I had carpel tunnel symdrome. Didn't go to the doctor as I figured I was smart enough to buy a brace and wear it. All caused by trigger points, and no longer a problem even though I'm on the computer a lot and do a lot of hand sewing on a massive project. Some carpel tunnel pain comes from trigger points in the scalenes, the muscle just under the collar bone.

--Years of shin splints and burning in my Achilles tendon all caused by trigger points in the calf.

--Years of severe pain in my feet--top, heel, sole and toes all caused by trigger points in the calf and foot. My big toe used to ache so much I couldn't sleep. No longer a problem.

I do want to mention that I don't have anything like RA, arthritis, have never been in a serious accident, etc., etc. I was just thinking that I was painfree two days ago. My hormones shifted yesterday morning which always sends my pain levels skyrocketing so I spend a good part of yesterday working trigger points. It's finally gone again.

I use an electric percussion massager to do the trigger point massage as I had it when I learned about TP massage. It's turned out to be a lifesaver as I can use it for extended periods of time, it glides easily over clothes and I don't have to look for trigger points--if I hit an area that's painful, I massage it. I think that has made all the difference in how successful I've been.