Myofascial Pain

Myofascial pain causes deep aching or throbbing in your muscle that may affect movement. Riverhills Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary practice, with three Cincinnati, Ohio, area offices in Norwood, Westside, and Anderson, as well as an office in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, that provides comprehensive care for acute and chronic myofascial pain. A one-stop shop, the practice includes physicians specializing in interventional pain management, physical medicine, and rehabilitation. For relief from your myofascial pain, call today or request more information online.

What does myofascial pain feel like?

Myofascial pain affects everyone differently. It’s a type of muscle pain that occurs from damage to the muscle and fascia (the white connective tissue that wraps around muscle), creating an area of sensitivity called a trigger point.

With myofascial pain, your symptoms may develop suddenly or persist and worsen over time. Myofascial pain may feel like:

• Dull aching or throbbing muscle pain
• Muscle stiffness or tightness
• Tender muscle knots

Your tight and stiff muscles may also limit your range of motion. It’s also possible to have pain in an area of the body that seems completely unrelated to the tender muscle. This is called referred pain and occurs if the muscle knot irritates or compresses a sensory nerve.

What causes myofascial pain?

Myofascial pain occurs when your muscles get stuck in a contracted position, creating a knot or trigger point. When contracted, blood flow to the muscle knot decreases and waste builds up, causing irritation, inflammation, and pain at the trigger point.

You may develop a muscle knot after an acute injury to the muscle or from overuse. Though anyone can develop myofascial pain, frequent tensing of your muscles from anxiety or stress may increase your risk. 

Myofascial pain may affect any muscle in the body, but it most often affects the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

When should I get medical care for myofascial pain?

Many people experience myofascial pain, which may resolve over time with at-home care. However, if your pain is an ongoing problem or getting worse instead of better, schedule an appointment at Riverhills Neuroscience.

Your provider conducts a thorough evaluation, reviewing your symptoms, usual activities, and medical history. They perform a physical exam and press on the tender areas of muscle to confirm the cause of your discomfort. 

What treatments can relieve myofascial pain?

Riverhills Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary practice providing all the services you need to manage your myofascial pain. Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and may include:

• Activity modification
• At-home stretching and exercise program
• Physical therapy
• Massage therapy
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Myofascial trigger point injections

With treatment, your myofascial pain may resolve within a few days or a few weeks. However, it can take longer in some cases.

Don’t let your myofascial pain keep you from your active lifestyle. Call Riverhills Neuroscience today to schedule an appointment, or complete the online contact form for more information.