Myofascial Pain Syndrome Support Group
Myofascial Pain Syndrome (or MPS) is a term used to describe one of the conditions characterized by chronic pain. It is associated with and caused by "trigger points" (TrPs), sensitive and painful areas between the muscle and fascia. The symptoms can range from referred pain through myofascial trigger points to specific pains in other areas of the body. It may be related...
I am 20 and new to all this. I have been been super sick for a major part of my life and I just recentaly found a doctor who didn't just blow me off and act like I was being a hypochondriac. I am new to all this and I am so overwhelmed and not sure what to do. I can't seem to find much of any relief. I have been through a fair share of treatments that haven't seemed to help much at all. I have been feeling like no one understands what I am going through. I don't seem to have any support. I'm finally finding doctors who are willing to go the extra step and test for stuff that most of them think are not needed and wont show anything. Obviously there is something wrong. There has to be a reason for me to be in all this pain. I am so stressed out and need relief. Doing my daily living activities seem like a chore.
What causes your pain ? Where is it located, in one or two places or all over ? What helps ?
How do you find sleeping? Are you able to get a good night's sleep and wake up feeling refreshed? Or do you 'do the rounds' with the sleep-stealer and feel battered and bruised and tired when you get up? I've had all this pain for a few years now and was 'trained' to sleep. Literally...just like you would train a dog to beg for treats I was trained to sleep!! It was on a 'Pain Management' course a good 8 years ago now and we did a lot of work on sleep, and when my pain got way way wa---y worse 3-4 years ago I still manage to get a good 4-6 hourse at night plus short naps through the day. I read somewhere if you nap it needs to be either 30mins long or 90mins, and that if you wake inbetween that you're going to feel that horrid 'gritty' tired feeling and I tried it all and it's been true for me. Weird, but true.
Are you taking any pain medication at the moment? I guess it depends on what hurts, how it hurts and how long it lasts (short stabbing pain or deep dragging pain), but pain relief is something we talk about a lot here!!!
You mentioned ice - how do you use it? For me it's mainly heat that helps, so hot packs, blankets, hot water bottles, cardigans etc. The one thing I have to have at the moment is a small blanket / thick cardigan to cover and protect my right shoulder from the air, as it usually gives me nerve pain burning and shooting in my shoulder, down my arm etc. Sitting in a draft is my worst nightmare.