If you’ve had trouble sleeping every night for years due to lower back pain, but can’t remember what might have caused it, you could be experiencing the first signs of chronic muscle pain. You’re not alone, as it affects about 100 million Americans every year. Thankfully, certain therapies can help.
What Is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. In this condition, pressure on sensitive points in your muscles (trigger points) causes pain in the muscle and sometimes in seemingly unrelated parts of your body. This is called referred pain.”
This kind of syndrome normally happens after one or more muscles has been contracted frequently. This may be caused by repetitive motions in jobs or hobbies or by stress-related muscle tension.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of chronic muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome) may include:
- Deep-rooted, throbbing pain in a muscle
- Pain that lingers or worsens
- A raw knot in a muscle
- Trouble sleeping because of pain
Fortunately, many symptoms of chronic muscle pain can be managed with therapy that includes ketamine treatment.
Causes & Risk Factors
Delicate areas of rigid muscle fibers may form in your muscles following overuse or injuries. These sensitive areas are referred to as trigger points. A trigger point in your muscles can cause pain and strain throughout the muscle. When this pain lingers and worsens, doctors refer to it as myofascial pain syndrome.
- Autoimmune illnesses
- Infections
- Injuries
- Medications
- Neuromuscular ailments
Risk factors
Myofascial pain syndrome, or chronic pain, is the result of a stimulus, such as muscle tightness, which kicks off trigger points in the muscles. Risk factors that may boost the chance of muscle trigger points include:
- A muscle injury. Constant muscle stress or an intense muscle injury can result in the development of trigger points. Research has taught that an area near or within a strained muscle can become a trigger point. Two other potential triggers? Repetitive motions and poor posture also can boost your risk.
- Anxiety and stress. People who regularly suffer from stress and anxiety can be more susceptible to developing trigger points in their muscles. One theory postulates that some people may be more probable to tighten their muscles, a kind of repeated strain that leaves muscles at risk of trigger points.
Is It The Same As Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
“No, but CMP may resemble fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) since both disorders are defined as having ‘tender points in muscles.’ However, CMP is believed to be a disorder of the muscle itself while FMS is believed to be a disorder in the way the brain processes pain signals. FMS is usually associated with more widespread pain and other symptoms that do not affect muscles including sleep disruption, irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue throughout the body and headache.”
Are There Complications?
There could be complications related to chronic muscle pain such as:
- Sleep difficulties. Signs and symptoms of chronic muscle pain can make it hard to sleep. You might have trouble locating a relaxing sleep position. And if you move while sleeping, you could hit a trigger point and wake up.
- Some research suggests that chronic muscle pain could lead to fibromyalgia in certain people. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain. It’s thought that the brains of people experiencing fibromyalgia develop sensitivity to pain signals over time. Some doctors believe it has a role in starting this development.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis normally involves tests such as:
- Blood tests to verify electrolyte, enzyme, and hormone levels and test for viruses.
- MRI or CT scans to uncover muscle injury or harm.
- Electromyography to gauge electrical activity in muscles and nerves.
- Muscle biopsy to search for muscle tissue differences that could indicate neuromuscular diseases.
How Can You Treat Chronic Muscle Pain?
Ketamine treatment is an innovative new treatment option for chronic muscle pain. It was originally used for pre-surgical anesthesia but has shown great promise in relieving chronic pain symptoms. In addition, other medication and therapy are forms of therapy worth discussing. Medicine like store-bought pain relievers, prescription anti-depressants, and some sedatives may work to treat chronic muscle pain, but non-medical therapies may also work for you, including stretching, posture training, massage therapy, heat patches, and ultrasound.
Final Thoughts
Chronic muscle pain harms millions of Americans, causing lower quality of life, lost income and productivity, and potential medical and psychological problems. The only way to manage symptoms is to get diagnosed. If you’ve experienced pain for years but don’t know why, contact us today to see if our treatments are right for you!
