Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

p ~atients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and trigger points (TP) present to every health ! care provider. Despite vigorous treatment, patients with progressive MPS often request a referral to a pain specialist. MPS is a common regional pain syndrome associated with chronic soft tissue dysfunction. Patients with MPS suffer from persistent pain and may end up with a decreased range of motion. Frozen shoulder may be caused by MPS and TP involving subscapularis muscle. TP are distinct, tbcal, hyperirritalSle spots, and usually can be palpated in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They may cause both local and referred pain. MPS and TP are common pain generators in patients with chronic headache, neck. shoulder, and back pain. I Patients with MPS and TP over the gluteus minimus muscle may present with back and radicular leg pain mimicing lumbar disc disease. MPS and TP involvi/ig latissimus dorsi muscle should be part of the differential diagnosis of mid-thoracic backache. Skootsky et al. reported that as ,nany as 85% of patients presenting with low back pain to a general internal medicine practice might have myofascial TP as their source of pain. MPS and TP over the upper body was found to be more common in comparison to other region. 2