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...

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/ Myofascial Pain Syndrome Support Group

an article on heat and cold treatments

deleted_user
deleted_user
This gets brought up once in awhile. I just came back from a walk. My thigh muscles, where there is still so much tightness, get really hot. So I looked up which to use in this instance. Still not sure. But I think I'll try a heat treatment before my next walk and see if that helps.

http://m.everydayhealth.com/pain-management/using-cold-and-heat
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good article. I didn't know heat helped get rid of lactic acid.
I practically live on my heating pad, that and a sock filled with rice heated in the microwave and put around my neck.

Hope it's helping you!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good article. I didn't know heat helped get rid of lactic acid.
I practically live on my heating pad, that and a sock filled with rice heated in the microwave and put around my neck.

Hope it's helping you!
Pumpkin31
Pumpkin31
It makes sense to use a heat pad before a walk - you bring some relaxation to the muscle and then keep it moving and therefore strengthening with the walking. That's one route to long term improvement :-)
Auntkat
Auntkat
Let us know if you feel a difference :-)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm using heat before and after stretching and walking. Thinking I need to buy more heating pads cuz this takes awhile with one! But it is working. My muscles relax. The therapist told me that cold stops the pain but does not heal. Heat heals. So I do use ice sometimes still when the pain in my shoulder gets to be too much. But ice on trigger points doesn't work for me. My muscles seem to tighten more. I also follow up with heat after icing my shoulder so it's heat/ice/heat 15/10/5 minutes.
Pollybizz
Pollybizz
for what it's worth...

My ortho guy (also have arthritis in knee) said use heat before, it relaxes the muscles and the ice after. I must say I was pleasantly surprised that it has helped me do more than a 10 minute walk!!