Chronic Myofascial Pain Symptoms

Symptoms

• Referred pain
• A taut muscle band that can be felt
• A sensitive tender spot in the muscle band (you may or may not be able to feel the pea size trigger point depending on the amount of muscle stress and where the muscle is located)
• Twitch response of the muscle by some mechanical method (i.e.: manual pressure or needle insertion)
• Referred pain patterns, type and location of
• Decreased mobility related to the affected muscle - restricted motion
• Weakness in the affected muscle

Following are other symptoms that may or may not be present. The symptoms depend on the referral pattern of the muscle affected with a trigger point(s) and the type of trigger point(s) present. Other chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic fatigue immunodysfunction (CFID) can also perpetuate the trigger points of chronic myofascial pain (CMP). This list is not all-inclusive, it is meant as a guide for understanding how untreated trigger points can affect the body as a whole.

• Breast pain and/or hypersensitivity
• Bladder difficulties - pain and/or urinary incontinence
• Bloating
• Chest pain
• Cognitive disruption - inability to concentrate
• Disequilibrium - lack of coordination, problems with balance
• Dropping things unexpectedly
• Ear - itching, aching, stuffiness, dizziness
• Eye - excessive tearing, eye lid twitches and/or drooping, pain, reddening, under eye bags
• GI (gastrointestinal) disturbance-diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal & stomach pain
• Gynecological symptoms - ovarian & genital pain, menstrual cramping
• Hearing difficulties - loss or ringing
• Facial pain
• Muscle cramps
• Paresthesias, unexplained - numbness and tingling
• Pelvic, groin and/or genital pain
• Sexual dysfunction - impotence, painful intercourse
• Shortness or breath
• Sleep disturbances - from pain due to muscles inability to relax
• Sinus problems and allergy symptoms - sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, hay fever, dry cough
• Speech disorders
• Throat pain or soreness
• Visual disturbances
• Weight perception distortion- inability to gauge weight