I use the ball on the wall. Actually, I put two tennis balls in a rubber glove and knot it. I use that along side the spine. I find that method is good for massaging but not for getting the actual Trps out. Others have had better luck with that than me. I get odd, tingling sensations when I massage certain muscles. There have been times when I've overtreated an area and aggravated the whole muscle. It feels like one big, sore, hard spot. I've also worked my neck too hard and caused the skin to swell - another aching sort of feeling. Go easy with the tennis balls! Sometimes it feels so good that it's hard to stop but it's important to learn the body's limits.

I don't think you can create TrPs with massage. In theory, you're bringing more blood to the muscle with massage. The muscle isn't being compromised (lengthened or shortened) for a long period but these are just my musings - I don't know.

Perhaps a chriopractor could help you - I don't have much experience in that department either. Good luck.

I've had good luck with the ball in some areas. Like Tink, I put two together for my spine but in a sock instead of a glove. I've also used the thera cane which challenges me with all it's protrusions. And I use a large wooden dowel with sanded edges so it's rounded on edge.
I think it's always a good idea to make sure our skeleton is in alignment. And if the chiro helps, great!
Good to hear you're enjoying progress.

Since myofascial pain happens because of "mechanical failures" such as repetitive injuries, trauma, and illness, I would consider having your structure evaluated. The first doctor to discover the majority my structural problems was an osteopath. Look for one that does musculoskeletal manipulations. You can find doctors on the website

hhtp://www.aoa-net.org

Additionally, I have had postive results from an Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractor. These are not the crack type chiropractors. It was an Atlas chiro who discovered that my Atlas and C2 were out of postion and his treatments stopped my headaches and back spasms. 80% or these doctors address the whole body, but the other 20% only work on the cervical spine. Look for one who is board certified and has taken many of the yearly update classes.

http://www.globalao.com

Glad you are finding the trigger points and starting to work on them, but it is important to look for the perpetuating factors. If these are discovered, the pain continues. Combining modalities is often the most productive.

Thanks everyone. I just made an appointment with a DO who does osteopathic manipulations, for a week from Thursday. I am still trying to get a hold of a chiropractor. For the first time I am beginning to have a little hope that I can get this condition under control!

Well, a bit of a setback today. I don't know if the spinal adjustment set it off or not, but I am a basketcase. I have more bruises, this time from the Theracane, on the sides of my waist. And I am sore all over. I am just doing an overall superficial massage with an electric massager (the dolphin).

The chiropractor said my hip was out. I don't know if that meant my SI joint was jammed. I am going to see him again on Saturday. I think going to a chiropractor is a good idea. It is sort of like going to the dentist. He finds problems and addresses them, even if those problems are not the source of all your troubles.

Walking today I felt the old pain in my sacroilliac joint that I thought had gone away. Maybe it just went away because my body was out of alignment. Sigh.

Some chiropractic treatments can be pretty intense, so maybe that is the reason you are sore. Additionally, the muscles may be sore because they are trying to adjust to the changes made. It will be interesting to compare the chiropractor's treatment to your session with the osteopath. I would suggest that you question the chiropractor as to what bones were out of alignment. The more clues you have, the better you can determine what your body needs. I think many of us have discovered that we have to take charge of our healing and having the information and doing the research is crucial in unraveling the causes of myofascial pain. Hope you aren't as sore after your Sat. treatment. The process of treating myofascial pain can get frustrating, so hang in there.

I am really glad that you are finding some ways to treat yourself that are on there way to doing some good. Like virtually all of us that realization that hey maybe I can whip this thing is as you say "life changing." The next life changer will come when you actually make one of those bad TrPs go away. BTW, it took me 7 weeks to erase the first ones I went to work on. Oh God was I a happy man when I went to massage one of them and found it was no longer there.

Also like most of us you want more healing and you want it now. My advice though is to be patient. Take things slow and don't mix in too many treatment types at the same time. If you have several types of treatments going simultaneously it becomes very difficult to understand which treatment actually caused the improvement.

Glad to read that you are going to see an osteo doc. I hope he or she is a good one.