So I am wondering if anyone caould explain to me the difference between fibro,myofascial pain, and chronic pain? I have been told that i have chronic myofascial pain, but really what is the difference??

thanks for any help in defining these for me.

sharon

Hi Sharon...

The main noticeable difference between fibro and mps is that with fibro, you get tender points on specific areas of the body. When you press on these points, it feels like pressing on a small but very tender bruise. Fibro has a long list of other symptoms, but that is the most defining one.

With mps you get what are referred to as trigger points. When you press on a trigger point with your finger, you feel pain traval along a path through your body. If you have a trigger point on your lower back and press on it, you might feel the pain shoot down through your hip and thigh. It can be very excruciating.

Both conditions produce chronic pain. Or they can both be caused by chronic pain. It's very common to suffer from all three simultaneously, as one often leads to another. I have them all.

If you look up fms on the internet, you can find "maps" of the tender point locations, and experiment by probing those areas with your fingertips to see if you feel a "hidden bruise".

Trigger points, on the other hand, may occur anywhere. But when you find one you will definitely know it's there.

Good luck, and if there's anything else you need, please feel free to ask...

Idealist

Well, chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 3 to 6 months. So, yes FM qualifies eventhough some days are better than others for us.
As for the difference between FM and MPS...here we go....

FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons – the soft fibrous tissues in the body.

Most patients with FMS say that they ache all over. Their muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch and at other times they burn. More women than men are afflicted with FMS, and it shows up in people of all ages.

SYMPTOMS AND ASSOCIATED SYNDROMES

Pain - The pain of FMS has no boundaries. People describe the pain as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, and stabbing. Intense burning may also be present. Quite often, the pain and stiffness are worse in the morning and you may hurt more in muscle groups that are used repetitively.

Fatigue - This symptom can be mild in some patients and yet incapacitating in others. The fatigue has been described as "brain fatigue" in which patients feel totally drained of energy. Many patients depict this situation by saying that they feel as though their arms and legs are tied to concrete blocks, and they have difficulty concentrating, e.g., brain fog.

Sleep disorder - Most FMS patients have an associated sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This condition was uncovered in a sleep lab with the aid of a machine which recorded the brain waves of patients during sleep. Researchers found that most FMS patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (or stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. Patients appeared to spend the night with one foot in sleep and the other one out of it.

Sleep lab tests may not be necessary to determine if you have disturbed sleep. If you wake up feeling as though you've just been run over by a Mack truck – what doctors refer to as unrefreshing sleep – it is reasonable for your physician to assume that you have a sleep disorder. Many FMS patients have been found to have other sleep disorders in addition to the alpha-EEG, such as sleep apnea (as well as the newly discovered form of interrupted breathing called upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS), bruxism (teeth grinding), periodic limb movement during sleep (jerking of arms and legs), and restless legs syndrome (difficulty sitting still in the evenings).

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea represent symptoms frequently found in roughly 40 to 70% of FMS patients. Acid reflux or gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GRED) also occurs with the same high frequency.

Chronic headaches - Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are seen in about 70% of FMS patients and can pose a major problem in coping for this patient group.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome - This syndrome, sometimes referred to as TMJ or TMD, causes tremendous jaw-related face and head pain in one quarter of FMS patients. However, a 1997 published report indicated that close to 75% of FMS patients have a varying degree of jaw discomfort. Typically, the problems are related to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the jaw joint and not necessarily the joint itself.

Other common symptoms - Premenstrual syndrome and painful periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, dizziness, and impaired coordination can occur. Patients are often sensitive to odors, loud noises, bright lights, and sometimes even the medications that they are prescribed.

Aggravating factors - Changes in weather, cold or drafty environments, infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations (premenstrual and menopausal states), stress, depression, anxiety and over-exertion may all contribute to symptom flare-ups.

This info was found at www.fmnetnews.com .

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a is a painful musculoskeletal condition, a common cause of musculoskeletal pain. MPS is characterized by the development of Myofascial trigger points (TrPs) that are locally tender when active, and refer pain through specific patterns to other areas of the body. A trigger point or sensitive, painful area in the muscle or the junction of the muscle and fascia (hence, myofascial pain) develops due to any number of causes. Trigger points are usually associated with a taut band, a ropey thickening of the muscle tissue. Typically a trigger point, when pressed upon, will cause the pain to be felt elsewhere. This is what is considered "referred pain".

These factors can cause trigger points:

•Sudden trauma to musculoskeletal tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, bursae)
•Injury to intervertebral discs
•Generalize fatigue (fibromyalgia is a perpetuating factor of MPS, perhaps chronic fatigue syndrome may produce trigger points as well)
•Repetative motions; Excessive exercise; Muscle strain due to over activity
•Systemic conditions (eg, gall bladder inflammation, heart attack, appendicitis, stomach irritation)
•Lack of activity (eg, a broken arm in a sling)
•Nutritional deficiencies
•Hormonal changes (eg, trigger point development during PMS or menopause)
•Nervous tension or stress
•Chilling of areas of the body (eg, sitting under an air conditioning duct; sleeping in front of an air conditioner)

Fibromyalgia or Myofascial Pain Syndrome or both?


Differential features of Fibromyalgia & Myofascial Pain Syndrome

FMS
Pain - Diffuse
Fatigue - Common
AM Stiffness - Common
Tender Points
Prognosis - Chronic

MPS
Pain - Local
Fatigue - Uncommon
AM Stiffness - Uncommon
Trigger Points
Prognosis - Resolves with treatment

This info was found at www.members.aol.com/fibroworld/mps.htm .

Unfortunately they are so similar that they usually happen concurrently and as you can see it is hard to tell one from the other. I hope this info helps you figure out the two.