Fibromyalgia vs Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Are they related?

Chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome (MFS) are often confused, and sometimes painted by uniformed practitioners with the same broad brush. Consequently, some patients with MFS may be misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, and vice versa. However, while the two syndromes share pain as a common denominator, the origins of pain differ, as does the treatment.

One primary difference between the two conditions is that treatment for MFS can completely resolve the issue, while fibromyalgia treatment may alleviate pain but will not eliminate the condition altogether. In some cases, the two conditions may coexist in the same patient.

One way to understand the difference between fibromyalgia and MFS is to look at the distinguishing characteristics of each:

• Population affected: MFS occurs with equal frequency in both men and women. Eighty to 90 percent of fibromyalgia sufferers are female.
• Cause: MFS most commonly occurs as a result of trauma, overuse, disuse or inefficient use of muscles. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts often experience MFS at some point as a result of muscle wear and tear. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but the condition is thought to be associated with heightened sensitivity to pain that originates in the patient’s brain and central nervous system.
• Symptoms: Fibromyalgia is characterized by tender point pain and sensitivity to touch that can occur in any area of the body, or can migrate from one area to another. Fibromyalgia pain is often described as flu-like achy-ness. Pain is often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disruption, irritable bowels, cognitive dysfunction and a host of other associated symptoms. MFS often presents as muscle knots, called trigger points, or tight ropey muscles that are localized. Like fibromyalgia, MFS sufferers may also experience fatigue and sleep disorders. Pain from trigger points may be referred, meaning they cause pain in an area non-adjacent to the trigger point itself.
• Treatment: Treatment for fibromyalgia focuses on reducing and managing pain and other symptoms, using a range of therapies including acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, massage, biofeedback and more. MFS can be treated with specific MFS therapy, designed to relax tight muscles and fascial tissue, and restore function to the patient’s musculoskeletal system. Fibromyalgia patients do not stand to benefit from MFS therapy.