I have both although I think a lot of people on here whose primary complaint is pain might be mostly myofascial pain.

I've always had cognitive dysfunction and feeling weird [at first] and then just downright sick as my primary symptoms and the reason it took so long to be diagnosed.

could you tell me about myofacial? Thank you!

hugs jilly

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a is a painful musculoskeletal condition, a common cause of musculoskeletal pain. MPS is characterized by the development of Myofascial trigger points (TrPs) that are locally tender when active, and refer pain through specific patterns to other areas of the body. A trigger point or sensitive, painful area in the muscle or the junction of the muscle and fascia (hence, myofascial pain) develops due to any number of causes. Trigger points are usually associated with a taut band, a ropey thickening of the muscle tissue. Typically a trigger point, when pressed upon, will cause the pain to be felt elsewhere. This is what is considered "referred pain".

I had physical therapy once a long time ago - I think it was something to do with my back (lol, I've had so much wrong with me over the years I can't remember what, when!).

I went thru 8 weeks 2 or 3 times a week. At the end the therapist reevaluated me and told me that he hadn't helped me at all (I knew that). He said I needed a different kind of therapy that he wasn't qualified to do - deep tissue therapy for myofacial release.

I've also had accupunture a few times over the years - I really believe in it - but it never really helped me. I always figured it had something to do with the deep tissue tension.

Does this sound like it might be related to what you described? Thanks for the info

hugs jilly

Myofacial for me is when the muscles tense and hurt painfully. Fibromyalgia is more of a joint pain.
Others can correct me if I am wrong.
It sounds like Miofacial to me jilly

I was diagnosed with RA 2006, so now when I have pain I am always trying to figure out what is the cause. It can be very confusing. The last time I saw my rheumatologist I told him I was having pain in my shoulders again and thought it was the RA. He examined me and said no it's the fibro. He pressed on the joint and had me move my arm, he said feel this - that's the muscle that moves the joint - that's where the pain is now. RA pain is inside the joint. Ahhhh. Now I have it. But I also have pain all over my body. I can take my finger and press on my chest just below my collarbone and it will hurt big time. That is true on about 80% of my body (wow it's a good thing I don't think about this on a regular basis, I'd be sooooo depressed, lol).

I honestly don't see how they could tell MF and FMS apart, unless a person with MF DOESN'T have the joint pain???? What do you think?

hugs jilly

I have it all....I am such a mess...I have bumpy ropey feeling muscles...my massage therapist who has been doing massage for 30+ years says he has never Felt muscles SO Tight, bumpy and ropey...and let me tell ya....massage therapy Does Not feel good...it hurts and if I have not drank enuff water before and After the massage I get very Sick/Dizzy from it...I get so pissy when people say...Geez must be nice that your Husband sends you Up for a massage every couple of weeks....oh yea, I do it cause I am spoiled...{Slap !! }


Ok...sorry I went off on a tangent there...lol...All is Ok now...lol

I'm wondering if MPS is actually a precurser to fibromyalgia or FM without joint pain...??? That would make sense since you were told they always go hand in hand.

I see my rheumy on 2/13 I will have to ask him about it. Very interesting, thanks for the post. Are they treated the same?

The place you were talking about on your collar bone is a trigger area.

I've had massage therapy too. My chiropractor has a massage therapist in his practice. When she would press on a place that hurt really bad, I asked is that a vertebra out of place? No that's a knot in the muscle...and then she pressed along the muscle and said feel this...this is a ropey muscle. So I have those too and yes Dakota it hurts to get them worked out, but feels so great when she stops, lol! My doc told me to drink a lot of fluids after massage, because the massage loosens up the muscle which in turn releases the toxins from the muscles and drinking the fluids helps to hasten them out and minimize their influence on your body. Otherwise you may ache and feel like you have the flu for a couple of days...

Fibro is more Joint pain ?
i thought ur Joints hurt cause ur Muscles knotted up so bad...muscular pain...hmmm...I will hafta go a lookin !!
my joints don't always hurt...but my muscles Do...and not only hurt, but feel very heavy, fatigued...like I have been scrappin in heavy Mudd...

i have both....I was told that by my pain management dr who diagnosed me...

hey Debbie! Did your doc tell you what the difference is between the two?

cmp has given me injuries that wont heal it is what keeps me in bed and i also believe this is why i got fibro i can remember since i was a kid the pain of cmp then over the years i would get over doing it injuries they never went away hugs charlene

I think they go hand in hand. THat's what fibro is, myofascial pain.