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 new here and trying to read as many posts as I have time for. I started having sacrum pain about 4 months ago and could hardly walk without pain. MRI of spine and hips are all clear. Blood work is normal. No limit in range of motion and really the primary problem appears to get worse when I sit. Activity makes it better. It has been improving but I also have noticed that I get sore spots all over my hips, groin, thigh, ribs, chest, and then other random things will just hurt. I have seen different doctors and they come up with nothing. Exhausted!
It's good news your blood work and MRI were all clear, that indicates it's more likely to be a 'muscle' problem -especially when you describe 'sore spots'. Sore spots sound like muscle knots and believe it or not they can cause pain so severe it can mimic heart attacks and acute appendicitis amongst many other conditions.
I have now long standing pain in my sacrum, caused by multiple nasty muscle knots so severe it makes walking hard (severe muscle spasms) with stiff aching joints, deep aching pains, sharp stabbing pains into, well everywhere tbh, especially the hot shooting pains down my legs (sciatica) into my feet, and the feeling of 'crawling ants' of the nerve pain etc etc. And that's just one bit; I have other equally miserable knots and pains all over-it's developed over time and I'm in the 'worse case scenario' group rather than the much, much earlier less complex cases that respond really really well to the right care and treatment and prevention of further problems.
Muscle knots can cause a whole load of pain and misery but can equally be easily treated by knowledgeable 'myofascial release therapists' / massage therapists with extra training on trigger points / John Barnes therapists etc'. You can even find and treat the knots yourself if you do enough research. Once you get release and relief you'll need to scrutinize your life to find the cause in an attempt to reduce the chance of the knots coming back and getting worse.
The classic sign of muscle knots, which are called trigger points, is that the cause of the pain (the knot or trigger point) is not where the pain is. The pain is referred from a knot / trigger point somewhere else. You have to find the knot, not the pain. (I have a knot near my elbow that gives me a searing pain in my shoulder blade / lower head / ear)
For immediate pain relief simple over the counter pills should be enough, as well as a hot pack -heat is a wonderful soother of muscle knots.
The best private therapists are listed in the 'jessie's threads for new ppl'.
For detailed personal research you can't beat www.painscience.com which has a whole ebook dedicated to muscle knots and trigger point pains.
For detailed locations of muscle knots / trigger points you can't beat 'Healing through Trigger Point Therapy: A Guide to Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction Paperback by Devin J. Starlanyl, John Sharkey'.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583946098/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d22_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=18E63601ZVTDB9MCQ1ZD&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2105317182&pf_rd_i=desktop
To learn how to massage your own muscle knots / trigger points I'd recommend going back to www.painscience.com, and learn about the 'tennis ball trick'!
Personally I use a specialist massage oil from weleda (on amazon too) mixed with pure comfrey oil. I find it helps relax the knots better than anything else out there, but anything 'slimy and oily' works!! Even just doing the massage over clothing can help.
This sounds a whole lot like fibromyalgia. Have you been assessed for it?