Have you been experiencing deep pain in your muscles that you can’t identify? If so, you may be suffering from myofascial pain.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic condition that can lead to a lifetime of issues for patients. If you or someone you know suffers from myofascial pain syndrome, read on to find out how chiropractic care can help!
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
To start, it may be helpful to define the term “myofascial”. In medicine, the prefix “myo” refers to muscle tissue. Additionally, fascia is a connective tissue covering that surrounds all of the muscles of the body, as well as some organs and other tissues. Therefore, myofascial pain syndrome is a disorder related to one or both of these issues.
Interestingly, myofascial pain syndrome deals primarily with trigger points throughout the body. These are regions that tend to be very painful when they are pressed upon. Furthermore, these trigger points will often cause pain in a seemingly unrelated area of the body. For instance, a trigger point located near the shoulder may cause pain in the forearm on the same side of the body.
Occupations or hobbies that require very repetitive motions are often associated with this disorder. The constant contraction of certain muscles can irritate the fascia and muscle tissue, leading to the pathology in question.
What Is Fascia?
In the previous section, we provided a brief definition of fascia. However, this topic may require a deeper dive.
In recent years, tons of research has focused on the role of fascia in both painful conditions and performance in athletes. By targeting our fascial tissues through massage and other techniques, we find that we have improved our range of motion and decreased pain.
This is an interesting finding, as fascia used to be largely disregarded when it came to painful conditions and optimal performance considerations. But now, there are professionals who specialize in fascial massages and other treatments specifically related to this tissue.
Common Treatments for Myofascial Pain
Often, doctors will recommend that patients with myofascial pain syndrome receive injections into the trigger points in question. However, these injections are essential “band-aid” fixes. In other words, they may provide some relief for a short period of time, but they are not addressing the underlying symptoms.
Chiropractic care, on the other hand, is interested in fixing the underlying issue causing myofascial pain. By performing treatments that improve spinal alignment, your chiropractor can help you return to a pain-free life. As a result, you’ll no longer have to withdraw from activities or avoid certain situations which may cause you pain.
Myofascial Pain and the Nervous System
Anytime we experience pain, our nervous system is involved to some degree. Specifically, our central nervous system (encompassing our spinal cords and brains) oversees all sensations in the body, including pain. Therefore, if our spinal cords are misaligned, we may incorrectly interpret certain stimuli as painful when they would ordinarily not affect us at all.
For this reason, chiropractic care is a great treatment for various chronic pain conditions. Chiropractors perform spinal manipulations which correct subluxations and misalignments in the spine. These treatments often lead to both short-term and long-term pain relief.
If you suffer from myofascial pain syndrome, a chronic pain disorder, the At Last Chiropractic team would love to help you get back on track. We strive to be your go-to chiropractor in Lithia, FL. We can help you determine what your specific issue is, and we will design a treatment plan to improve your symptoms. Book your appointment with us today.
