Muscle Pain
Muscle pain, also called myofascial pain, is simply pain and inflammation in the soft tissue of the body.
Muscle pain may be caused by a variety of factors, which can be strenuous exercise, repetitive motion, sleeping in an odd position, etc. There are also diseases and colds that may cause muscle pain, such as the flu or even the common cold can cause some minor aches/pains. The majority of transient pains will resolve on their own within 2-4 weeks. It is generally recommended waiting at least 1-2 weeks to have a new pain addressed as it could go away during that time.
Muscle pain, from trigger points, is pain that persists for some time and tends to get progressively worse. Most of the time (about 85%) pain is felt somewhere other than where the pain generator, or trigger point, is located. This is called referred pain.
Trigger Points
Myofascial Trigger Point (Clinical Definition): A hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. The spot is painful on compression and may give rise to characteristic referred pain, referred tenderness, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena.
Myofascial Trigger Point (Layman's Terms): A 'knot' in a muscle, which causes pain that is mostly deep, dull, and aching. A trigger point can also cause a sensation that makes a person feel like pain is radiating somewhere else (usually close by) and may also make the affected body part feel weak.
Check out the cross section of a trigger point.
Diagnosis
Myofascial Pain can be a process to diagnose since many different conditions can affect the soft tissues of the body.
An experienced practitioner will attempt to rule out other pathologies first, such as visceral (organ) conditions, neuropathies, and/or orthopedic concerns. A comprehensive history and blood work will also be ordered
It is important to see a health care practitioner who is familiar with myofascial pain if you feel you have it - perhaps even one who dedicates their practice to treating only muscle pain.
Treatment
The treatment of muscle pain from trigger points can vary greatly from one practitioner to another. Since there are a variety of different treatments for muscle pain it is important for a person to research the different types of treatment to determine which is the best place to start.
When utilizing a resource as vast as the internet please keep the following in mind:
- Consider the site you are viewing (including this one) and what product/therapy they are selling.
- Use forums cautiously. Many times forums can be great places to get good practical information, but can also offer negative feedback about legitimate treatments for pain.
- Ask questions and ask lots of them. Find a therapist or doctor who will take the time to listen to you.
Ultimately, at least in this practice, a person will learn to manage their own condition through education about the condition, self treatment, stretching, and supplementation, where indicated.