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Posted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that causes chronic muscle and bone pain, soreness, and fatigue. Although symptoms vary from person to person, the pain of fibromyalgia can sometimes extend to the chest. This pain is mainly felt in the middle of the chest, around the breastbone and around the rib cage.
1.Diagnosing fibromyalgia by pain points
There are 18 trigger points throughout the body, each about the size of a coin. Fibromyalgia points are clustered around the neck, chest, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. They are located on both sides of the body, both above and below the waist. For a point to be considered soft, that spot will cause local pain when your doctor presses on the spot with a finger.2.fibromyalgia treatment Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. Instead, treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and improving quality of life such as
Using medication Developing a self-care strategy Lifestyle changes Using medication can help relieve pain and help you sleep better. Physical therapy and movement also help improve health and reduce stress.
2.1. Tips for Dealing with Trigger Points People with fibromyalgia are often more concerned with generalized aches and pains than specific pain points. Fibromyalgia symptoms interfere with your daily life such as:
Morning stiffness Difficulty moving Pain when shaking hands and hugging Painful knots in your muscles Painful knots in your muscles are usually psychosocial trigger points. Trigger points are hard lumps, which form in tense skeletal muscles. Unlike trigger points that produce only localized pain, trigger points produce both localized and transitional pain. Trigger points are more common in people with fibromyalgia than in the general population. However, anyone can develop them.
There is a chronic widespread pain condition called myofascial pain syndrome. It is associated with chronic trigger point pain. Myofascial pain syndrome can coexist with fibromyalgia. A study in The Journal of Pain, the official journal of the American Pain Association, found that most trigger points are also trigger points in the body.
Additionally, a study published in this journal found that the majority of neck and shoulder pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia is caused by trigger points, not pain points.
2.2. Trigger Point Suppression Injections for Fibromyalgia Injections to Suppress Trigger Points can neutralize painful trigger points, providing pain relief in certain areas. Injections to suppress trigger points should be performed by a trained anesthesiologist with specialized equipment. The injection may contain saline, steroids, or a local anesthetic such as lidocaine.
2.3. Acupuncture for fibromyalgia There are many similarities between fibromyalgia points, musculoskeletal trigger points, and acupuncture points. Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese practice of inserting needles into specific points on the body, which has been used for pain relief for thousands of years.
If you haven't tried acupuncture, it can be a great treatment option. Most acupuncture clinics can quickly perform this procedure for you.
2.4. Trigger Point Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia A study in the American Journal of Therapeutics and Physiology suggested that two types of massage therapy significantly help women with fibromyalgia.
Manual lymphatic drainage is a massage technique to move fluid away from areas of blocked or damaged lymphatic vessels. Connective tissue massage is an intense massage technique that focuses on manipulating muscle tissue.
Fibromyalgia points are areas where you may experience local pain when you press on them. For pain relief associated with both, talk to your doctor about potentially helpful therapies for treatment.
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References
Conversano C, et al. (2019). Potentially traumatic events, post-trauma stress disorder and post-traumatic stress spectrum in patients with fibromyalgia. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29745889 Ekici G, et al. (2009). Comparison of manual lymph drainage therapy and connective tissue massage in women with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.12.001