Treating Myofascial Pain: Relief Is Available

Ever felt pain when someone touches you? It may be myofascial pain. Treating myofascial pain can bring relief and help you return to your everyday life with less pain.  

“Almost everyone will experience myofascial pain at some point in life,” says Dr. Mariam Ashraf, assistant professor of clinical anesthesiology and board-certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine. “If it becomes a chronic issue, it can decrease functional capacity and mobility at any stage of life.” 

Here’s what you should know about this painful condition. 

Defining Myofascial Pain 

Myofascial pain results from pain in your muscles (myo) and connective tissue (fascia). This pain can result from stress, muscle fatigue, a lack of exercise or deconditioning, poor posture or muscle overuse. When pain lasts longer than three months, it becomes a chronic condition called myofascial pain syndrome. 

The two most common areas of the body affected by myofascial pain are the neck and low back.  

Myofascial pain is often associated with trigger points—stiff, tender and taut bands of muscle and fascia. When pressed or touched, these hypersensitive spots may reproduce pain or trigger pain in a different area known as referred pain.  

Common Myofascial Pain Symptoms 

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 9 million Americans experience myofascial pain syndrome, with the condition affecting as many as 85% of people over age 65. Dr. Ashraf suspects the number of people who experience this muscle pain is significantly higher.  

“There are subsets of people who live with pain and never report it to a health provider,” she says. “There is no universal presentation, and many patients are not aware of the treatments available for myofascial pain.” 

Common symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include: 

What Causes This Painful Condition 

Your daily routine is often to blame for myofascial pain. Excessive strain on muscles can lead to overuse. This overuse begins a cycle of pain and inflammation within the muscles and connective tissue. The pattern can begin at any time, but certain activities cause pain more often than others. 

“Treating myofascial pain is often necessary in patients who are trying to intensify their exercise routine,” Dr. Ashraf says. “Patients may pull a muscle due to improper technique while exercising. Myofascial pain can also result from excessive use of computers and cell phones, which contributes to poor posture. Looking down at screens for long periods every day can lead to muscle imbalances that contribute to myofascial pain.” 

Due to the increased use of handheld devices, Dr. Ashraf observes that the muscle tension and pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome are affecting an increasing number of young adults.  

Other risk factors for myofascial pain include:  

Diagnosing Myofascial Pain 

Identifying the source of your problem is crucial for treating myofascial pain. To diagnose myofascial pain, a pain medicine specialist will ask a series of questions, including: 

During the diagnostic journey, you’ll also undergo a full-body physical exam. Your pain specialist will assess your range of motion, areas of weakness and potential trigger points. Though the American Society of Anesthesiologists states that imaging exams and blood tests can’t confirm myofascial pain syndrome, these tests may help with your diagnosis. Your care team may recommend these tests to rule out other potential causes of pain.  

Treating Myofascial Pain  

Once you have a diagnosis, treating myofascial pain typically begins with a conservative approach. If that doesn’t work, additional treatment involving procedural interventions or medications may help.  

A few treatment options offered through Weill Cornell Medicine include: 

• Physical therapy. You work through a series of exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles causing your pain. 
• Massage therapy. Expert massage helps loosen tense muscles that cause pain. 
• Medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can help reduce inflammation and pain. Muscle relaxers help alleviate tension in tight muscles and provide relief from discomfort.  
• Dry needling. A pain specialist inserts a thin needle into the trigger point. “This breaks apart the muscle fibers,” Dr. Ashraf says, “allowing the muscle to relax and heal with less tension.” 
• Trigger point injections. Also known as wet needling, trigger point injections follow the same process as dry needling, with one difference. While inserting thin needles into your trigger points, the pain specialist injects a steroid or numbing agent at the treatment site. 
• Implantable device. A surgeon implants a device in your body that sends gentle electrical stimulation to nerves in your back. This stimulation relieves pain and strengthens weak muscles, helping to manage future pain.  

“The worst scenario is living with chronic pain and not knowing what’s causing it or how to fix it,” Dr. Ashraf says. “There are options for treating myofascial pain, and we’re eager to answer your questions and help you move toward improved health and wellbeing.” 

Conclusion  

Treating myofascial pain begins with recognizing the symptoms and receiving an accurate diagnosis. 

Do you suspect you or someone you love is experiencing myofascial pain? Find a doctor at Weill Cornell Medicine to access expert care.