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 have not been diagnosed yet as I going thru the process of seeing various specialist. I have had pain in my thighs for over 7 years after running on a treadmill too much and hard. I am seeing a athetic therapist who does dry needling. He confirms that my pain in my legs is due to taut bands of muscel in my quads that keep coming back. I pretty sure I get them in the calves which may explain ankle pain? When I get flare ups by just walking too much one day or taking the stairs I find using a frozen 2L of water helps when I roll them over the tender spots. Has anyone tried rolling a frozen water bottle to relive pain? This might not break up as well as heat but it reliefs the flare up. If I am flared up too much heat seems to make it worse. Heat seems to work best when I am in mild pain.
https://www.painscience.com/biblio/side-effects-of-dry-needling-of-sore-spots-are-probably-worse-than-proponents-realize.html
I would recommend finding a really good massage therapist who understands TP release. If caught early enough (before they spread), TPs can be gotten rid of, at least largely. If allowed to worsen and spread, then they can become permanently disabling. I wish someone I trusted had told me this 12 years ago.
I think the best approach for me is warm moist heat followed by trigger point release and / or deep tissue massage (myofascial release). The massage is key, and don't quit on it until you find a really good therapist, because the vast majority cannot effectively treat trigger points.