Myofascial Pain, Fibromyalgia, and Arthritis

[deirdre]

For some years, I’ve been struggling with mis-identified causes of pain. It was believed that I had arthritis and fibromyalgia. Period.

As I’d been arguing, that covers less than half—and probably less than a quarter—of my pain most days. I finally have an accurate diagnosis: most of it is myofascial pain.

Both have sore spots, but the myo ones are where nerve enters muscle, and irritating them usually refers pain to a specific area. Fibro points tend to be near joints; irritating them doesn’t refer pain—but can make the whole body hurt non-specifically.

Put them together: irritate a myo trigger point, myo radiates pain to a fibro point and then you feel crappy all over. Win.

The really interesting thing for me is that I’ve known for years that my pain was inflammatory, and fibro isn’t (and myo is). So that answers that question, too.

The good news that now I have a real treatment plan.

Originally published at deirdre.net. You can comment here or there.