Fibromyalgia vs Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Learning to differenciate between fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain isn't as difficult as it sometimes appears to be. Dr. Devin Starlanyl has made the distinction very easy to understand on both her Informational fibromyalgia & myofascial pain web site, and in her books. Not all doctors are able to diagnose fibromyalgia accurately, and it is possible to be given a diagnosis of fibromyalgia when what one has is chronic myofascial pain. Tender points are different than trigger points, and yet many people are given a diagnosis of fibromyalgia based upon trigger point pain.

While it is possible to have both fibromyalgia and myofascial pain, there are definite differences. One difference is that more women than men have fibromyalgia, but the ratio of men to women who have myofascial pain syndrome is equal. Also, in fibromyalgia, the muscles have generalized sensitivity, while with myofascial pain, the muscle areas that are located away from the trigger points and their referral regions have normal sensitivity. With fibromyalgia, there is total body achiness, while with myofascial pain there are specific pains in specific areas. With myofascial pain, the areas not affected by trigger points don't hurt, but with fibromyalgia, the areas outside the tender points still ache. Fibromyalgia is a neuroendocrine disorder while myofascial pain is a neuromuscular condition.

The similarities between the two conditions and a physician's lack of skill in administering the Tender Point Index test can often lead to a misdiagnosis. If we were given a choice of which condition to have, most likely we all would choose myofascial pain syndrome. It is easier to treat with massage, stretching, and exercise, or even trigger point injections. However, for any of these therapies to work, the perpetuating factors must be addressed.

Sleep disturbances occur with both conditions because trying to sleep when one is in pain is very difficult, plus living with any kind of chronic pain can lead to depression. In both cases, at least part of the fatigue, and usually the largest part, is due to lack of restorative sleep. In fibromyalgia, this is due to the neuroendocrine imbalance, and in myofascial it is due to the pain.

People with only chronic myofascial pain can improve and can return to a normal life with treatment and control over their perpetuating factors, but those with a true diagnosis of fibromyalgia don't have a specific treatment plan available that works for every one of us at this time.

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