Fibromyalgia or Muscle/Myofascial Pain

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder in the connective tissue and it characterized by pain that is widespread, along with fatigue and weakness. With this disease there are usually multiple tender points on the body which are found in specific locations around the back, neck, upper and lower extremities. Fibromyalgia is associated with sleep disorder, depression and anxiety and is typically found in women ages 30 to 50, but can be experienced by anyone. The pain and stiffness can be felt for weeks and months and can often include headaches as well and Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Although uncomfortable, Fibromyalgia is not life-threatening or progressive and can be treated to significantly improve symptoms. Interestingly, many people are misdiagnosed as having this disorder since further evaluation for their pain symptoms were not considered initially. In our experience, these necessary evaluations and appropriate physical examinations tend to provide more clinical information that leads us to other causes of their pain symptoms that are treatable.

Muscle/Myofascial Pain

Typical treatments for Fibromyalgia are use of appropriate medications, physical therapy, exercise programs, vitamin supplementation and for some psychological evaluation and treatments. We at Wasatch Pain Solutions do not treat Fibromyalgia with opiate pain medications as clinical research has not shown that people with Fibromyalgia benefit at all with these medications. Myofascial pain is a chronic form of muscle pain that centers around sensitive points in the muscles called trigger points. These trigger points can be painful upon touch and the pain can spread throughout the affected muscle. Most people experience some amount of muscle pain throughout their life that generally resolves in a few days. Myofascial pain patients are different from the average person in that their pain persists and worsens. There are treatments to help myofascial pain including trigger point injections and medication.