Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial pain is a term for muscle pain, or pain and inflammation of the soft muscle tissue. Myofascial pain syndrome refers to a chronic condition that affects the fascia, or connective tissue that covers the muscles. The syndrome can distress one muscle or a group of muscles. The pain may even transfer to another area of the body, a condition commonly called referred pain.
Myofascial pain syndrome is sometimes confused with fibromyalgia, but while fibromyalgia affects the entire body and is usually symmetrical in its areas of discomfort, myofascial pain usually involves muscles in only one area of the body. Your Manhattan sports and pain management team knows how to diagnose myofascialback pain and other myofascial pain therapy needs you might have.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
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Causes of Myofascial Pain
Because the muscles in your back are numerous, diverse and essential for nearly every movement you make in your daily life, you notice any muscular pain in your back readily. These muscles are involved in every move you make. Causes of myofascial pain include:
- Muscle injury due to overuse or trauma
- Excessive strain
- Repetitive motions, especially in a job setting
- Lack of activity due to a sedentary job or lifestyle
- Stress
- Anxiety
It's common for myofascial back pain to be a primary complaint. It's not a pain you can stretch to placate. When your fascia gets inflamed in a specific area of your body, you have to treat the inflammation with medication, not with physical movement. Physical movement, in fact, just irritates the fascia, causing more pain.
Symptoms Leading to Myofascial Pain Treatment
Symptoms of myofascial pain can be sudden or come on gradually. You may feel the pain for a few months before it disappears, only to come back again or become an everyday occurrence. Its symptoms include:
Deep aching pain in your muscles
Pain that persists or worsens even with rest
Tender knots in your muscles
Muscle pain with specific "trigger" or "tender" points, especially in your neck, upper back or lower back
Poor sleep patterns
Depression
Pain that worsens with activity or stress
Behavioral disturbances due to fatigue and continuous pain
Stiffness after inactivity
If you have any or a number of these symptoms, look to your pain management doctor in New York City for relief. Complications can arise if myofascial pain syndrome is left untreated. Besides the pain you'll continue to feel, you can expect worsened sleep patterns, continuing depression and spreading of pain as the beginning of fibromyalgia.
Diagnosis Before Myofascial Pain Treatment
Your Midtown Manhattan pain specialist is well-versed in understanding muscle pain. He can usually diagnose myofascial pain syndrome with a good medical history and a physical exam.
While he may run some blood tests to rule out other conditions, he is primarily looking for trigger points.Trigger points produce pain when pressure is applied to a specific area of your body. There are two types of trigger points:
Active Trigger
Active trigger points are areas of extreme tenderness, usually located within skeletal muscles and associated with local or regional pain.
Latent Trigger
Latent trigger points are dormant or inactive areas that have the potential to act as active trigger points, but primarily cause muscle weakness or restricted movements.
Ready to find relief from myofascial pain syndrome?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
Myofascial Pain Relief
As with all syndromes, the primary goal of myofascial pain treatment is symptom management. Since the exact cause of myofascial pain isn't always known, finding comfort and pain relief — as well as restoring mobility — is your New York City pain specialist's goal. Treatment may include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammation medication that can be delivered via skin patches directly to the affected muscles
- Medications for sleep
- Medications for depression and pain
- Medications for muscles spasms
- Medications for nerve pain
- Physical therapy
- Posture training
- Heat
- Massage therapy
- Ultrasound
- Trigger point injections
Lifestyle Remedies as Myofascial Pain Syndrome Treatment
The definition of a syndrome is that it can be an ongoing, chronic condition. Dealing with a chronic condition may feel frustrating. But knowing techniques to incorporate into your everyday life makes living with a chronic condition easier, giving you a sense of control. They include:
Gentle exercise
Over-the-counter myofascial pain relief medication
Hot water soaks
Relaxation techniques
Taking care of your body through diet and rest
Myofascial pain therapies may work for a time and then become ineffective, requiring constant adjustment. Daily pain and discomfort affects your lifestyle and mood. Your doctor may recommend finding counseling, peer support groups or online support to adjust to dealing with your everyday challenges. Your NYC sports and pain specialist works with you to find the myofascial pain syndrome treatment best suited to your needs and lifestyle to improve your quality of life.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Myofascial Pain Syndrome Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to myofascial pain syndrome is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
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Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Myofascial Pain Syndrome Patients Say
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."