Fibromyalgia Trigger Point Treatment

Fibromyalgia consists of three different types of pain. Widespread pain: The flu-like pain that's all over your body, the achy feeling you have all the time. Tender point pain: This is the pain that is used to diagnose fibromyalgia. Tender points are small nodules of pain that increase when pressed upon. Trigger point pain: Trigger points are hard nodules that cause pain to radiate when pressure is applied.

Today, I am going to talk about trigger points, the pain they cause and how to treat them.

What is trigger point pain?

Trigger points can cause pain not only in the trigger point nodule, but in the muscles and joints that are near the trigger points. Trigger points are painful enough when left alone, but when pressure is applied, the pain is excruciating. Trigger points feel like nodules the size of a quarter. They are hard nodules that are located just under the skin.

Where are trigger points located?

There are a total of 18 trigger points, 9 on each side of your body. The location of these trigger points are: The front and back of the neck, the shoulder blades, the chest area, rear hip, behind the knees, elbows, middle of the back and the upper outside of the buttocks.

How are trigger points treated?

Deep massage:

Deep massage is used instead of gentle massage because pressure is needed to "dissolve" the trigger points. I consider it "tearing apart" the trigger points because basically what they are, are knotted muscles. Deep massage is more beneficial because of the "force" used during the massage.

Rolfing:

Rolfing is actually a form of deep massage. During a rolfing session, the therapist uses his knuckles, elbows and fingers to knead the trigger points and try to "tear" them apart so oxygen can get in and toxins can escape. The pain is caused by a lack of oxygen to these areas and also because of the toxins that are "trapped" inside.

Rolfing may be painful, but when the trigger point is "released", it is such a relief. The pain just "melts" away and the tension on the muscles and joints around the trigger points are then relaxed.

Trigger point injections:

I have had many of these injections, and find them very helpful in relieving trigger point pain. An injection is given right into the trigger point. A solution containing Lidocaine is injected, causing numbness in the trigger point. This causes a decrease in pain. Some researchers believe that a needle inserted into the trigger point without the injected Lidocaine would be just as beneficial.

From my experience, which is extensive, The needle does help, although it is not near as effective as a trigger point injection. Lidocaine, which is injected directly into the trigger point, numbs the area for about an hour or so. This is a relief in and of itself, and something a needle alone can't do.

Trigger points can be stubborn and tend to reappear some times a week after treatment. But, with continued treatment, the reappearance of trigger points gets farther and farther between. Trigger points, however, do not go away.

If you have any new, different and effective treatments that you have tried and had success with, I would like to hear from you. Either leave a comment below, so others can benefit also, or email me at freefogging@yahoo.com and I will put your valuable treatment methods in another post.