Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia Myofascial pain and
fibromyalgia are chronic painful conditions affecting the
muscles of the body. Fibromyalgia patients by definition must
also have at least 11 out of 18 predetermined tender points.
These points are tender to the touch but the pain usually does
not radiate out from the site of tenderness. Patients with
fibromyalgia usually complain of fatigue, sleep disturbances and
mood disorders. Patients with myofascial pain usually do not
have any of these secondary symptoms. The hallmarks of
myofascial pain are trigger points. These trigger points are
tender areas of muscle which you can often feel. Trigger points
can occur at almost any site in the body. These trigger points
are similar to the tender points of the patient with
fibromyalgia. When palpating these areas, the pain may radiate
out a distance from the original site. They may even mimic the
radicular symptoms of a bulging disc or herniated disc. Symptoms
associated with myofascial pain but not fibromyalgia ma