I think the term "trigger points" conjures up thoughts of "accupuncture points" or "life lines on your palms." When I'm speaking with MDs, I usually say "myofascial knots" because I just know what kind of reaction I'll get if I say "trigger points." I saw an orthopedist a few months ago, and I mentioned that I have these muscle knots or trigger points that I believe are pulling on some of my joints. He started laughing (not with me but at me) and said that it would take a much stronger force to move the joints, such as a bolt of lightning. I've been more than a little discouraged that none of the MDs I've come across know anything about the muscles.

I figure that I don't get paid to teach Dr anything, so if I have to "inform them" of the background for what is ailing me I just fire them and go to a Doctor that has his/her act together...

I have yet to find a doctor who really unerstands what I am going through. I am on a "don't see doctor thing" right now as I am so disgusted at the way I am treated . So many of these doctors should not even have a license to practice and I honestly believe that the only reason they went to school in the beginning was strictly for getting rich. My feeling is even if you do not believe your patient have the decency to treat them with respect, and if you have no idea what the heck is wrong with them, then have the guts to tell them you do not know.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess others have encountered this reaction too. I feel frustrated and a little depressed today because of it. It seems to me that doctors should be part of the solution of your health problems, not just another obstacle. This is just one of the doctors I am seeing, however, so I guess I just need to put it in perspective.

I can take the supplements that I have already bought. I don't think they will hurt me. The office is going to give me B12 shots which could be a help. Doing all these lab tests again seems like a drag though.

With these 2 doctors telling me I have chronic Lyme, I am thinking now I will just take a round of antibiotics, and see if they help anything.

On a sunnier note: I found some new trigger points in my lower abdomen (have another bruise from psoas massage, though). And I am going to see a physical therapist that does trigger point massage today.

Oh yes, I found this to be the case with my pcp when I first developed myofascial pain. After a lot of research, I told my doctor that I had all the symptoms of myofascial pain. His comment, "You know that many doctors don't believe this condition exists." Thus, he dismissed it. That was 14 years ago, and things have changed within that HMO. Myofascial pain is listed under conditons on their website, and they actually give accurate information on it. Unfortuately, they don't offer anything to treat it.

Fast forward, to the spring of 2010. I was able to get out off my HMO and get into Blue Shield. Found a new pcp who referred me immediately to a physiatrist, a doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. There were three in the medical clinic, so I chose the one who was also board certified in pain management and was an acupuncturist. Figured he would be open minded to all the alternative treatments that I do. This young doctor is very knowledgable, compassionate and humble. Love him! He is the one who discovered that I was hypermobile and stressed the importance of SLOWLY strengthening my core to stabalized my pelvis. No one else had mentioned this. This doctor stays after hours to give trigger point injections etc... if he can't work you in during office hours. Once I called to have him tape my back and the nurse said that he could see me at 7:00 p.m.. Can you believe it? I know this is a long story, but there are a few excellent doctors out there. Keep searching and as wildcatter pointed out, if the doctor is rude or dismissive, fire him or her and try another one.

Chimerical, I hope the trigger point therapist is helpful today. Let us know how it goes.

Most of my doctors clearly didn't understand what this myofascial stuff was but listened to my symptoms and have been willing to do whatever I suggested in terms of pain management. It probably helps that I've spent years working in the medical profession (I'm a midwife), although I still find it hard to find the right words to describe what I'm going through; I frequently stuggle with words anyway, stumbling over and mangling sentences.

It doesn't help that it's such a weird condition - today one half of my face is cold and fluttery as the nerves are affected by the trigger points in my neck and shoulders - with such diverse and vague symptoms that mimic so many other conditions.

Have faith though, there are good sympathetic doctors out there who are willing to work with you to find answers even if they don't have them. I always say that there has to be 'chemistry' between you and your doctor / therapist and what works for one person doesn't work for another just like any other relationship.

But yeah, Bisja is also right and some are just complete idiotic morons.

My pain clinic has a wonderful physical therapist and I found a chiropractor that found all of my trigger points in my back and used massage and other therapies to see what worked best for me. I am on medical assistance and it doesn't cover either of these doctors. I use a dual head percussion massager when the pain gets at its worst and it hurts like you wouldn't believe but will then calm it enough so I can get to sleep at night.

The first doctor I saw when I realized that what was happening to me was "myofascial oain" was supposedly the myofascial expert in the large university practice. I explained how it had spread over my entire back, my shoulders, neck and jaw. I was in so much pain I could barely hold myself up and could no longer function normally He prescribed me Cymbalta and was like "yeah, I know how you feel. Sometimes I have a little knot in my shoulder that really irritates me, you will be fine." I wanted to punch him.
We did some more research and found a clinic thats solely specializes in myofascial pain. This is where I am now. it was so nice to talk to a doctor that truly understood what was happening and who was able to help explain everything to me.
My husband is about to finish medical school and never once was myofascial pain mentioned to him. We talk about how ridiculous that is all the time. For whatever reason, the medical profession has not accepted that pain can come from muscles and that there is such thing as myofascial pain syndrome. When he tries to explain to doctors he works with what I am going through, they look at him like he is crazy, like that they don't believe muscles could cause much pain. I am hoping that the knowledge he has now about myofascial pain will help his patients in the future.
I agree that it is hard to explain this to someone. I often feel foolish trying to explain how I feel like I am trapped in a tight, painful, knotted up body. Although it is horrible that we all have to deal with pain, it is nice that we can come here to see that we are not alone.

Yes the medical profession is behind the curve on this, especially when you note that Dr. Janet Travell was researching and publishing about trigger points in the 1940s and 50s, and she was the personal physician to JFK! For me the crazy thing is that this was a doctor who is into alternative medicine. He is ready to diagnose Lyme disease on the basis of ambiguous test results, but won't pay attention to something that is empirically obvious. I have these bumps on my skin and when you push some of them, it is obvious it causes pain. But he was not interested in that at all.