Distinguish Between Pain Caused By Fibromyalgia And Myofascial Syndrome?

Dr. Carol Warfield answers the question: 'Fibromyalgia Or Myofascial Syndrome?'

By
Carol Warfield, M.D., Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
November 14, 2008, 1:26 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: How Can I Distinguish Between Pain Caused By Fibromyalgia And Myofascial Syndrome?

Answer: Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition which is characterized by pain and tenderness in very small, very specific points in the body. Thesetrigger points, as they are called, lie over areas of muscle and fascia. An injection of these areas may prove to relieve the pain of myofascial syndrome. One of the big differences between myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgiais that fibromyalgia is a widespread disease, and patients often experience pain in both sides of the body and above and below the waist, whereas with myofascial pain syndrome, the pain is typically in the area of only one or two muscle groups. For example, maybe only in the neck and shoulders.

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