Overcoming Pain

Why people experience chronic pain, and the power they have to de-intensify it.

Dr. Mark Borigini is a board-certified rheumatologist who has devoted his career to treating, and training others to treat, a wide variety of illnesses that cause chronic pain and disability. See full bio

January 26, 2009, Health

Comments on "Myofascial Pain Syndrome vs. Fibromyalgia"

Myofascial Pain Syndrome vs. Fibromyalgia

By Dr. Mark Borigini on January 26, 2009 in Overcoming Pain

Many patients are labeled with fibromyalgia simply because they have chronic soft tissue pain. But it is important, at least for the sake of correctness, that not all chronic soft tissue pain be called fibromyalgia.

In fact, localized or regional pain is often due to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), a rather common condition which affects certain muscle areas.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascia Pain

Submitted by Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show on January 28, 2009 - 5:59am.

I agree that not every case of Chronic Myofascial Pain syndrome (CMPS) is the same as Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). However, many people with one illness also have the other. That is because the root cause for CMPS is physical trauma. And, yes, many cases of FMS occur because of physical trauma, but it also can originate from mental, emotional, and spiritual sources, too. It is critical to determine the source of the problem and begin to fix it and undo the damage. This is a very personal journey for each of us. Healing the trauma that caused my fifteen-year battle with FMS was not quick at first, but it was doable. I encourage each person to search for their own answers.