What are the painful knots that appear all over the body? Let's learn exactly about Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Do you sometimes feel a strange pain in the same place in your neck, shoulder, or back? It feels like a tight knot in your hand, and when you squeeze it, the pain gets worse? This may not just be a muscle spasm. Today we are talking about a condition that many people suffer from, but are not fully aware of. That is Myofascial Pain Syndrome .

Simply put, what is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

While the name may sound a bit complicated, the story is actually quite simple. "Myo" refers to muscles. "Fascial" refers to the thin membrane that surrounds these muscles, called fascia . So, we call Myofascial Pain Syndrome a long-term painful condition caused by inflammation of these muscles and the membrane that surrounds them.

Imagine your body is like an orange.

• The peel of the orange is your skin.
• The orange peel inside is your muscles.
• Now, that thin white membrane around the orange peel is called fascia .

This fascia, a membrane, surrounds every fiber, muscle, and muscle group in our muscles and acts as a support for them. When this fascia membrane and muscle become tight for some reason, painful knots, or what we medically call trigger points , form there. This pain is not limited to there, but can sometimes spread to other areas as well.

Most people feel this pain in one place. However, some people may experience this pain in several places. However, it is usually most common on that one side.

How common is this condition?

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a much more common condition than you might think. Experts estimate that about 85% of the general population is at risk of developing this condition at some point in their lives. That means that eight out of ten people around you could experience it.

What does the pain feel like? What are the symptoms?

The pain experienced in this condition can vary from person to person. Sometimes the pain can come on suddenly, suddenly. Other times, it can feel like a constant, dull ache.

Let's clearly separate the main symptoms.

In addition to these main symptoms, other health problems can also occur with this condition.

• Headache
• Insomnia or sleep disturbances
• Stress
• Anxiety and Depression
• Fatigue

Are there any types of trigger points?

Yes, these painful knots, or trigger points, can be divided into four main types.

• Active Trigger Point: This is the main painful knot. It is located inside a muscle. When you press on that spot, it can cause pain there or spread throughout the muscle.
• Latent Trigger Point: This is a "dormant" knot. This means that it usually does not cause pain, but can become active at some point.
• Secondary Trigger Point: This occurs in a muscle other than the one with the primary active trigger point, but in a related muscle. Sometimes both can be active at the same time.
• Satellite Trigger Point: This is a knot that becomes inactive because it forms in the same area as another Trigger Point.

Why does this situation occur?

Experts are still trying to figure out why some people are more likely to develop the condition than others, but several key factors have been identified.

• Muscle injuries: An injury to a muscle caused by an accident or while playing sports.
• Repeated movements: For example, someone who keeps hitting with a hammer, or someone who keeps typing on a computer.
• Poor posture: Sitting or standing in the same position for a long time, especially in a bad posture.

In addition to these main causes, there are other risk factors that increase the risk of this condition:

• Muscle weakness.
• Having a long period of muscle inactivity (e.g., having a leg in a cast).
• Working or living in a cold environment.
• Severe stress (this causes muscle tension).
• Pinched nerves.
• Hormonal or metabolic problems such as thyroid disease, and diabetes-related neuropathy.
• Vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin D and folate.
• Chronic infections.

How does a doctor diagnose this disease?

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a condition that is often misdiagnosed and missed because its symptoms are very similar to those of other conditions involving the nerves, bones, ligaments, or tendons.

Your doctor will examine your muscles. They will feel for taut bands and trigger points. If a trigger point is found and pressed, and you feel referred pain there or a short distance away, that is a key clue to the diagnosis.

There are no specific blood tests or scans (X-rays, MRI) for this. Also, there is no visible redness, swelling, or unusual warmth in this condition.

Your doctor may recommend other tests to rule out other medical conditions. He or she may also ask you questions like:

• Where do you feel the pain?
• Can you describe the pain (like aching, throbbing)?
• How often does the pain occur?
• What can you do to reduce the pain?
• What makes the pain worse?
• Has there been any accident recently?
• What kind of work do you do? What kind of movements do you have to do?

What are the treatments for this?

Fortunately, there are several treatment options to manage this condition. The best way to achieve the most successful results is to see a doctor as soon as possible, before the pain becomes severe and trigger points develop.

Treatment can be divided into three main parts:

1. In-office treatments

2. Medication

3. At-home remedies

Treatment under the supervision of a doctor

Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of these treatments.

• Physical therapy: Using various exercises and techniques to strengthen, stretch, and relax muscles.
• Dry needling: Inserting very thin needles into trigger points to reduce muscle tightness, increase blood flow, and relieve pain.
• Trigger point injections: Injecting a painkiller (e.g. Lidocaine ) into the trigger point with a needle to relieve pain.
• "Spray and stretch" method: Spray a cooling liquid onto the trigger point and slowly stretch the muscle.
• Ultrasound therapy: Uses sound waves to penetrate the muscles and relieve pain.
• TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): Pain control by applying pads to the skin and sending low-voltage electrical signals to trigger points.
• Things like acupuncture and relaxation therapies can also help improve sleep and reduce anxiety.

Treatment with medication

Your doctor may prescribe these types of medications:

• Painkillers
• Anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs )
• Muscle relaxants
• Types of Steroids
• Antidepressants (These also help control pain)
• Sedatives to improve sleep quality

Things you can do at home

These things you can do at home can provide great relief from pain.

• Cold and hot compresses: Use ice packs to reduce inflammation and heat packs to relax muscles.
• Exercise: Aerobic exercises that strengthen muscles, stretch muscles, and increase oxygen supply are very important.
• Relaxation techniques: Things like yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation relax muscles and reduce stress.
• Dietary changes: It is very important to avoid foods that increase inflammation in the body.
• Bathing with warm water.
• Gentle massage.

Are Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia the same thing?

This question is asked by many people because the pain and trigger points are similar in both conditions. However, these are two completely different medical conditions .

Let's simply understand this difference from the table below.

Can this situation be prevented?

While this situation cannot always be prevented, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk.

• Get good sleep: Get adequate, restful sleep every day.
• Reduce stress: Engage in activities like meditation and yoga.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid muscle injuries: For example, is the bag you're carrying on your shoulder too heavy? Check to see if it's straining your shoulder muscles.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Drink enough water.

In particular, stay away from these foods!

Some foods increase inflammation in the body. When inflammation increases, the pain of Myofascial Pain Syndrome also increases. Reduce these foods as much as possible.

• Fried foods: (e.g. French fries, chips)
• Dairy and dairy foods: (milk, cheese, yogurt)
• Foods with refined carbohydrates and flour: (bread, pasta, cakes, pizza)
• Margarine, butter, vegetable oil
• Foods and drinks high in sugar: (sugary drinks, sweet foods)
• Red meat: (beef, steaks)
• Artificial Flavors and Additives: (Processed Foods)
• Prepared meats: (sausages, hot dogs)

It may be difficult to stop all of these at once, but try to eliminate them from your diet one by one.

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