Muscle Pain Syndrome

Muscle Pain Syndrome will affect all of us at one time, or another. Muscle pain can come in many forms. The pain can be due to a variety of reasons. Usually the type of pain we have all experienced will be due to some form of sprain or strain. We bend to lift something or other and the pain stabs you in the back. It doesn’t matter how much the object weighs, it’s just that your muscles weren’t ready for that particular movement. Or, we try to place something on a shelf above the head and the pain hits in back of the shoulder. These are things that occur in every day living. Pains in the muscles can occur while playing sports or playing with our children or grand children. These too, are the little injuries to the muscles that are so very prevalent.

As healthcare providers, we describe these pains as soft tissue injuries. The injuries can come in several categories. There is the possibility of a strain, and that is an injury occurring in any part of the muscle. Injuries to muscles are placed in three categories and described according to grade. Grade 1 is the over-stretching of the muscle. Grade 2 occurs where muscle fibers are partially torn, affecting 10 to 50% of the fibers. Grade 3 is where the fibers are extensively torn or even completely ruptured and is therefore considered a muscle sprain.

Considering injuries to muscles, we cannot overlook the fact that there are covering sheets of tissue over the muscles. This is called the fascia. It is possible that even though the muscle is not injured, there may be injuries to the fascia itself. The fascia facilitates the movement of the muscles between other structures. Any injury causing damage to the fascia will impact the movement of the underlying muscle.

Damage to a muscle, whether it’s caused by a push, pull or a whiplash, can cause a “knot” to form within the muscle itself. This knot is called a “trigger point”. A trigger point will cause pain, not only at the injured site, but can send radiating pain to points emanating far from the original injury. Trigger points are not only caused by physical injuries, but can be caused by other factors as well. Some such causes are, poor posture, lack of exercise, traumas of all types, repetitive motion injuries and poor nutrition.

Whenever injuries occur to the fascia and underlying muscle, nature sets up a healing process. In the course of this healing process, there is a proliferation of certain cells called “fibroblasts” that act as patches to the injured muscle fibers. The patches result in scar tissue and adhesions and won’t have the flexibility of normal muscles tissue. As healing progresses, the muscle will lose its full range of motion because of the scar tissue. It is therefore, extremely important that the individual seek proper treatment for the rehabilitation of their injuries.

Seeking treatment from your healthcare provider as soon after an injury occurs, is not only advisable, but should be a priority. The longer the injury is left unattended, the greater the possibility of extensive scar tissue forming, and more range of motion that is lost. At this stage, more extensive treatment will become necessary to restore normalcy. When early intervention takes place, the healthcare provider will use several modalities to treat the condition. Such modalities as electric muscle stimulation (EMS), ultrasound (US), and massage therapy could be used. The healthcare provider will also instruct the patient on stretching exercises.

The individual can and should take an active role in their treatment as well. Initially, after an injury, they should use ice therapy for the first 48 hours, applied 15 to 20 minutes on and an hour off, several times daily. After which they can use heat (preferably moist heat) for 20 to 30 minutes, several times daily. Using a good analgesic gel 3 to 4 times daily can be very useful and soothing. As the pain starts to lessen, stretching exercises can be started. These exercises are started slowly at first and gradually increased as tolerance permits.

The best advice one can give when an injury does occur is not to ignore it and take a wait and see attitude. See your healthcare provider to have it evaluated and treated. And do take an active role in treating it yourself.