What is Myofascial Pain?
Myofascial pain is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles). Myofascial pain syndrome may involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. In some cases, the area where a person experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located. Experts believe that the actual site of the injury or the strain prompts the development of a trigger point that, in turn, causes pain in other areas. This situation is known as referred pain.
Myofascial pain is often caused by tension, spasm, or fatigue of the muscles that allow a person to chew, called the masticatory muscles. Grinding of the teeth and jaw clenching are related to myofascial pain and can lead to headaches. It is common for myofascial pain to limit jaw movement and to affect muscles in the neck, back, and shoulder. Actually, myofascial pain can affect any skeletal muscle in the body. It is not limited to the muscles of mastication (chewing).
Myofascial (my-oh-FAY-shall) pain is a condition that causes pain in the broad muscle overlying your shoulder blade and spine. It usually affects people over 30 (unless they are very active in sports). It usually lasts a short time, unless involved tissues are continuously irritated.
Nearly everyone experiences muscle pain from time to time that generally resolves in a few days. But people with myofascial pain syndrome have muscle pain that persists or worsens. Myofascial pain caused by trigger points has been linked to many types of pain, including headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, low back pain, pelvic pain, and arm and leg pain.
The fascia is a tough connective tissue which spreads throughout the body in a three dimensional web from head to foot without interruption. The fascia surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel and organ of the body, all the way down to the cellular level. Therefore, malfunction of the fascial system due to trauma, posture, or inflammation can create a binding down of the fascia, resulting in abnormal pressure on nerves, muscles, bones or organs.
The link between mind and body is nowhere clearer than in hypnosis and pain relief. It has long been known that the body responds physically to what the mind currently imagines as ‘true’. Simply conjuring up an image of your favorite food in your mind (yum, yum) can cause your mouth to water. That is, you activate your salivary glands by holding the presence of that food as ‘true’ - even temporarily.
Myofascial pain symptoms usually involve muscle pain with specific “trigger” or “tender” points. The pain can be made worse with activity or stress. In addition to the local or regional pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome, people with the disorder also can suffer from depression, fatigue and behavioral disturbances.
