Myofascial Pain Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
Two overlapping chronic pain conditions that cause persistent muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness — often undertreated with medications alone and requiring a coordinated, multi-modal approach to achieve meaningful relief.
Understanding These Conditions
Myofascial pain syndrome is caused by trigger points — tight, painful knots within muscle tissue that generate local pain and often refer pain to other areas of the body in predictable patterns. Common locations include the neck, upper back, shoulders, lower back, and hips. Myofascial pain can develop after injury, repetitive strain, postural stress, or without a clear identifiable cause.
Fibromyalgia produces widespread pain throughout the body along with fatigue, sleep disturbance, and difficulty concentrating — often described as brain fog. Unlike myofascial pain, fibromyalgia is driven by a central sensitization process in which the nervous system amplifies pain signals across the entire body. The two conditions frequently coexist, and addressing both simultaneously produces the best outcomes.
How We Evaluate It
We begin with a thorough history and physical examination — including a detailed review of your pain pattern, distribution, associated symptoms, prior treatments, and response to those treatments. We review any prior imaging, laboratory studies, and diagnostic workup to establish whether there are identifiable structural contributors to your pain or whether the picture is more consistent with central sensitization. Understanding the balance between myofascial and fibromyalgia components guides treatment planning.
How We Approach Treatment
For myofascial pain, trigger point injections can provide direct relief by releasing the contracted muscle tissue and interrupting the pain cycle. Multiple trigger points can be treated in a single visit. When combined with physical therapy and targeted stretching, trigger point injections often produce the most durable results.
For fibromyalgia, our approach combines medication management with referrals to physical therapy, aquatic therapy, and behavioral health support as appropriate. We recognize that fibromyalgia requires a whole-person treatment plan — not just a prescription — and we work collaboratively with your other providers to coordinate care. A consultation is the right starting point to develop a plan that fits your specific situation.