Podcast # 415: Myofascial Pain Syndrome & Fibromyalgia

Author: Ryan Circh, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Myofascial pain syndrome (MFPS) is typically unilateral with discrete points of palpable pain
• Often secondary to repeated use and poor posture.
• MFPS typically responds very well to trigger point injections.
• Fibromyalgia is bilateral and diffuse and is thought to have a psychological component
• Some of the best pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia are Tramadol and Flexeril

References:

Tofferi JK, Jackson JL, O'Malley PG. Treatment of fibromyalgia with cyclobenzaprine: A meta-analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Feb 15;51(1):9-13. PubMed PMID: 14872449.

Goldenberg DL, Burckhardt C, Crofford L. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome. JAMA. 2004 Nov 17;292(19):2388-95. Review. PubMed PMID: 15547167.

Giamberardino MA, Affaitati G, Fabrizio A, Costantini R. Myofascial pain syndromes and their evaluation. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Apr;25(2):185-98. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2011.01.002. Review. PubMed PMID: 22094195.

Borg-Stein J, Iaccarino MA. Myofascial pain syndrome treatments. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2014 May;25(2):357-74. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.012. Epub 2014 Mar 17. Review. PubMed PMID: 24787338

Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD