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 suffered a detached labrum in my shoulder when I was 16 which was not surgically corrected for 25 years which led to a burn spur and severe bursitis that was scraping the rotator cuff. OTC meds did not work. I was in severe pain. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. I finally got some relief with a prescribed muscle relaxer when I was 34 to help me sleep at night. When I started having lower back pain, I had an MRI. The neurosurgeon did further testing because he spotted a syrinx which enveloped my entire spine at 8.5. I also had Chiari I. I had a decompression surgery to prevent paralysis and further nerve damage. The pain in my neck became horrifically worse. It took 10 days to be able to turn my chin one notch. I won't take the full med prescription because of my job and children. I suffer horrific pain and have a multitude of nerve problems. I have now been in severe chronic pain for about 31 years. God has given me the grace to keep going to bring glory to his name and not to my own. Someone told me that they thought that I also had RSD or CRPS because of my different symptoms. So, I was wondering if someone could give me a list of their symptoms. I do have the symptoms of MPS, but I have additional symptoms. Thanks for your time.
What sort of symptoms do you experience?
For me, MPS consisted of: burning pain, shooting pain, stabbing pain, muscle spasms and twitches, extremely tight muscles that felt like saran wrap was wrapped around them, and difficulties sleeping due to pain.
Hope this helps!
~Bio :)
Many people find they need direct deep massage ('trigger point massage') of the various muscle knots that form your mps but because of the conditions you had and still have it's essential you find a highly skilled practitioner who understands the conditions and knows to go very very slowly and lightly (rather than pressing deep into the muscles). I believe a Bonnie Prudden or John Barnes-trained practitioner are the gentlest of those I've heard others talk about. Just search under their names to find practitioners.
You can also do gentle (very very gentle in your case) trigger point massage yourself. There is a book called ''The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment for Pain Relief by Clair Davies and Amber Davies' that is a good basic introduction to trigger points, where they are and how to treat them.
Another excellent general book is 'Save yourself from trigger points & myofascial pain syndrome' at www.saveyourself.ca
which is (my favourite!) "A guide to the science of muscle pain, with reviews of every possible self-treatment and therapy option, even for the most difficult cases". There is a list of 14 of the most common areas to treat yourself that resolve the vast majority of mps cases. Leaving us poor creatures here at the 'worst case scenario saloon' who need more creative solutions!
I don't know what information you've been given in terms of physiotherapy / general or simple stretches to avoid deconditioned muscles but that may be a good place to start increasing what you can do. Some people have had success with 1:1 remedial pilates as well. If in doubt just stick to walking at first, 30 mins a day makes all the difference to the body's health and it doesn't even matter if it's all at once or done in small chunks.
Starting by gathering information is usually the best way to do it; learning about what mps is, what muscle knots are, how they affect the body and the easiest or simplest way to live with them. Remember, too, where there has been many or complex surgeries (such as with your skull / neck) you are unlikely to get rid of all trigger points but you should be able to calm them down so they reduce the pain and return them to their inactive, or 'latent' state where you can function easily and happily with them like that and also (and most importantly) help to avoid further injury.
I also learned some important things that helped me like when I stand to put more weight in my heels and tuck my rear under. I also learned to relax my shoulders instead of having them hunched in a protective mode. Also to lower my chin and tuck my head back slightly.
Blessings to you, my new friend.