Unexplained pain in your lower back, arm, or even your tooth can be baffling when doctors find no obvious cause. Myofascial pain syndrome (MFP) affects a large portion of the population, yet many medical professionals are not trained to recognize it.
At Metro Pain Centers, spanning locations across New York and New Jersey, specialists in pain management can identify myofascial pain syndrome and address the triggers responsible.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome Basics
MFP arises from hypersensitive bands within muscles that form trigger points. When a muscle knots up, it can produce referred pain far from that muscle, setting off a pain response in a distant nerve. Diagnosis is often difficult because many physicians do not routinely search for and stimulate trigger points to identify the source.
Common Areas of Referred Myofascial Pain
Head
Unexplained or persistent head pain may stem from myofascial triggers in the neck or upper back, potentially producing migraine or tension-type headaches.
Neck
Pressure on a trigger point anywhere in the body can generate immediate neck pain through referred pathways.
Lower Back
Lower back pain without spinal degeneration or injury may indicate MFP, where a distant muscle group triggers a painful nerve response.
Teeth
Research suggests up to 25% of facial and tooth pain may be caused by myofascial pain syndrome. Addressing the trigger often eliminates the phantom tooth pain.
Myofascial pain can also appear in the arms, legs, or upper chest. If pressing on a knotted muscle reproduces your pain elsewhere, a consultation with a pain specialist is recommended.