Chronic Conditions
Myofascial Pain
Muscle and fascial pain with tender trigger points that refer pain to predictable areas.
What myofascial pain is
Myofascial pain arises from taut bands within muscle that contain trigger points — discrete tender areas that refer pain to characteristic regions away from the point itself.
It commonly accompanies spine and joint problems, and can persist after the original problem is treated. Trigger point injections combined with stretching and postural correction are the mainstay of treatment.
Common symptoms
- A tender knot in the muscle that reproduces your pain
- Deep aching in the shoulders, neck or hips
- Restricted movement and muscle stiffness
- Pain that worsens with stress or sustained posture
Common causes
- Sustained poor posture, such as prolonged desk or phone use
- Muscle overuse from repetitive work or exercise
- Compensation patterns that develop around another injury, such as a facet or disc problem
- Physical or emotional stress that increases muscle tension
- Prior injury to a muscle that did not fully resolve
How it is diagnosed
The exam involves feeling along the affected muscles for taut bands and trigger points, which are small, discrete areas that reproduce your typical pain pattern when pressed, sometimes referring pain to an area some distance away.
Because myofascial pain frequently accompanies an underlying spine or joint problem, the evaluation also checks for a facet, disc or joint source that may be driving ongoing muscle tension, since treating only the trigger points would leave that source untreated.
Imaging is not usually needed to diagnose myofascial pain itself, but may be used if the exam raises concern for a coexisting structural problem.
Treatment options we offer
Which of these applies depends on your examination and, where appropriate, a diagnostic block confirming the source of your myofascial pain.
- Trigger Point InjectionsSmall injections into taut, tender muscle bands that release the knot and reduce referred pain.
- Medication ManagementCareful, monitored use of the right medication class for your pain type, with clear goals and safety oversight.
- Nerve BlocksTargeted injections that interrupt pain signals along a specific nerve or nerve plexus.
- Joint InjectionsCorticosteroid or viscosupplement placed into a painful shoulder, hip, knee or other joint under image guidance.
When to see a specialist
- A tender knot in a muscle that reproduces your usual pain when pressed
- Deep aching in the shoulders, neck or hips that persists for weeks
- Restricted movement or stiffness that limits daily activity
- Pain that clearly worsens with stress or sustained posture
- Pain accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss or swelling, which should be evaluated for other causes
Common questions
What is a trigger point exactly?
How does a trigger point injection work?
Can stretching alone fix myofascial pain?
Why does my myofascial pain keep coming back?
Related conditions
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
- NeuropathyNerve damage causing burning, numbness and tingling, most often in the feet, legs and hands.
- Complex Regional Pain SyndromeA disproportionate pain response after injury, with skin, temperature and swelling changes in a limb.
- FibromyalgiaWidespread musculoskeletal pain with fatigue, sleep disturbance and heightened pain sensitivity.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.