Myofascial Pain/Physical Therapy.

Hi all, I'm new here, but not new to chronic pain. Since the age of 14, or possibly younger I have dealt with chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, and I am 27 now. I have been seeing specialists for awhile and getting different diagnosis and have finally been told I have Myofascial Pain Syndrome. I have done physical therapy in the past, but never was able to keep up with my stretches and exercises at home. So now I am back in PT, and am trying very hard to keep up at home. I was wondering if anyone else here is doing physical therapy, and if so, how do you keep yourself motivated to stay on track at home? Also, does anyone else suffer from Myofascial Pain Syndome? I had not even heard of it before I was diagnosed so am curious if it is common or not. Thanks everyone.

Hi wiltedxdaisy,

Sorry to hear you have chronic myofascial pain too. I had never heard of it either until l was recently diagnosed with it. The pain can be excruciating at times. I hope your pain isn't too bad.
I'm no longer going to PT but it did help for a while. I do the stretching exercises at home now and have had several injections and nerve blocks. I try to do them in the morning and again at night before I go to sleep. When the pain is bad I do them where ever I happen to be, like when I'm sitting in traffic. How many exercises does your PT want you to do at home each day?

What are your symptoms like now?

Keep in touch! Glad you found PC!

Hi SeekingZen,

Thank you so much for replying. I'm sorry to hear you too suffer from Myofasical pain. My pain has improved a bit since starting back up PT, they are focusing mostly on Myofascial Release with me this time, which I quite enjoy. The pain varies... some days and it's terrible and others it is bearable. It tends to be worse at night for some reason. Right now I only have two stretches that I am working on, chin tucks and.. not sure what it's called, but it's where I push my shoulder blades together. I also try to do some other stretches I learned through my previous PT experience.

Thanks again for sharing, thought I meet be the only one! I went so long hearing different diagnoses, but I finally feel like I have the right one, which is a relief, as I suffered from this pain since I was around 14 and am now 27!

Hi Wiltedxdaisy,

I forgot about the chin tuck exercises, thanks for reminding me to start doing those again! I do the shoulder pulls too, as well as holding my neck down w/ one hand on my head, the other behind my back and then turning my to the side for a count of ten then switching to the other side. I repeat this 3 more times. BTW, my pain also tends to be worse at night...weird huh?

I haven't had myofascial release yet. Does your PT use a foam roller when doing it? I'm eager to hear more about it!

What has your doctor said about your myofascial pain dx? My doc told me I will be dealing with this for the rest of my life, and I keep praying that he's wrong....I'm interested in what your doc told you. Did they explain what caused it and what course it usually takes? Like you, it took me a long time to get this dx, after years and years of being in pain.

Some days are better than others, I agree. We just have to learn to cherish the good day, but it can be frustrating being in so much pain when it gets really bad, as I'm sure you know.

My doc suggested trying Botox injections, so I'll let you know if that helps at all.

Please keep in touch! So glad to have found someone here who is experiencing the same thing, though I wish we'd met under different circumstances! I certainly would't wish this pain on anyone!

I'd to hear more about your continued progress! & I'm glad you've found something that is helping you!



SeekingZen

Thanks SeekingZen, I appreciate you checking up on me.

Mostly what my PT's do for Myofascial Release is different types of massages. (Which are quite nice and really do help!) I'm not a big fan of foam rollers, they tend to hurt my back more than help it. Do you like to use them?

My Dr. didn't actually tell me much, I actually found out my diagnosis from my PT, although it was the pain specialist who diagnosed me. I go back to see her on the 17th and will definitely have some questions for her!

I know you said something about injections if your earlier post.. was wondering if they were trigger point injections? I actually had this done once and it was very painful for me and didn't help. Did it help you? And yes, please let me know about the botoc injections, although after the trigger points, I am a bit afraid of injections!

Anyway, I hope your pain is not too bad today. Mine is not the greatest right now, but I have PT in a bit so hopefully that will help! Will keep you updated and hope you will do the same!

Hi wiltedxdaisy,

Good to hear from you again! Yes, I've had the trigger point injections and they were very painful. They didn't help much either. Some of the nerve block injections helped, but I got different results each time. None of them lasted very long though.

I've tried a foam roller (but not w/ a PT), on my own at home and at the gym. I actually like using a tennis ball wrapped in a sock. I'll ask my doc if he can recommend someone who does myofascial release. I've looked into massage places, but none of them seem to do it. Do you know if it's any different than a deep tissue massage by chance?

Hope you enjoy your massage and get some pain relief! Talk to you soon. Take care!

your quote BTW

What I need to do and what I'm able to do are two different things. IF I were able to do what the PT wants it would take about 30 minutes 3x a day. Take that it would require about an hour to get that 30 minutes of sets done, then another hour or two to recover... all I would be doing is stretching and recovering day in day out. So I quit doing many at all on days I have to go to doctors (3x a week)... I can't maintain anyway, and cannot progress either...so the PT allows me to have a bit of life and helps me maintain.

I have stretching for TMD, mysofascial pain. So there are some for jaw and most for sacrum, hamstrings etc.

But like today, I can't do anything but use tennis balls for the screaming trigger points. I had an IME Monday am and it flared pain and fatigue. I am worthless today...surprised I'm even on the net.

Hi (JD), so sorry you suffer from Myofascial Pain too... glad to hear you are doing PT though. Hope your pain will ease up sometime soon. Feel free to keep posting updates on how you're doing! BTW, you are not worthless. You took time out of you day just to reply to my post! Oh, and not sure, what are TMD and IME? Thanks again for sharing!

Hi again SeekingZen, almost missed your post! Glad I scrolled up and saw it!

Sorry to hear the trigger point injections were painful for you too and they didn't help much. The Dr. who did mine could not believe they hadn't helped me, so I am glad to hear I am not the only one who didn't think they were the most amazing thing ever!

When I told my PT's that I don't like the foam rollers, one of them recommended putting a couple of tennis balls in socks and rolling on them so I was have to give that a try!

As for the Myofascial Release... one my PT's did something that was not really a massage-y type massage-- more of like a streching and pulling and pushing with his hands, and another one does a massage with massage oils which feels a lot more like a regular massage, so I am not really sure! I would definitely recommend asking your Doctor. Is your pain in the same area as mine??

And thank you.. I had a nice session! I am actually leaving for a trip in about 10 days, so hopefully I will be in better place as my Fiance and I are driving from Northern Michigan to Seattle, WA! 3 LONG days of driving there and then not sure how many back, depends on the weather. Not sure if you travel or not.. but if you have any tips for staying comfortable in a car, please let me know! I am going to ask my PT's as well.

Hope your pain is not too bad today!

Take care,
Angel

P.S. Thank you, it's not mine, the author of the quote in unknown, was just on a picture I saw on FB. I love it too through.

Hi JD & wiltedxdaisy,

JD, sorry you are in so much pain too. Do you go to PT 3x a week? What is IME? Hope your flare eases up soon!!! Have you found anything that helps w/ your TMD pain?

wiltedxdaisy, TMD is what most people refer to as TMJ, which is actually the temporomandibular jaw joint that we all have. TMD is temporomandibular joint disorder. It's excruciatingly painful! Unfortunately, I have TMD too.

Hi again Angel,

Glad you had a good session! Yes, my pain is also in my neck and shoulder, and also in my lower back (SI joint). I have TMD as well. I don't know which is worse... Today was manageable though which is good.

BTW, how often do you go for myofascial release?

Have your fiance give you massages if he's willing and make sure to get out of the car every couple of hours and stretch. I would also recommend taking some Icy Hot patches with you and applying them where you have the most pain. They really help me. Get plenty of rest and do your stretches each am and pm. Road trips can be a bear (for me at least) so I try to pack some healthy snacks for the drive so I don't end up eating junk food along the way. I'd also take some extra pillows and a blanket so you can get comfy in the car.

Hope you have a fun and safe trip! Take care! Talk to you again soon.

Seeking Zen,

Thank you for explaining TMD to me... I had never heard of that before. Sounds very painful! I'm sorry that you suffer from that too.

Keep me posted on you.. I go back in for PT on the 11th I think. Been hurting pretty bad today so it couldn't come sooner! Will keep you posted on me as well!

Take care,
Angel

Seeking Zen, sorry, I only saw your first post, so now I will reply to your second, lol.. so look up if you didn't see the first!

I am glad to hear today was manageable for you. Like I said, today was not too good for me. But soon I will take my back meds and lie down and hopefully get some rest.

I go into PT 2x a week usually and they have done it every session so far, along with a bit of stretching and sometimes exercise.

And thank you for the advice, I plan to do all of the above, lol! I always generally keep a pillow and blanket in the car, especially in winter and for trips. I am nervous for the drive, but will let you know how it goes!!

All the best,
Angel

My fatigue has been overwhelming still since Monday's IME. Independent Medical Evaluation/Exam...when the insurance company sends you to one of their pre-paid doctors to "evaluate" you trying to dismiss your claim with the insurance company. (I even had one tell me "that after examining me, there was nothing wrong" ...except he had seen me for the first time in his office and had NOT yet examined me!) grrr

Yes TMJD, TMD... my industrial accident took my lower jaw off both hinges and I've had bilateral TMJ surgeries...

I cannot maintain with home exercises (did I say that?) which is why I have to go to PT. I cannot progress, as the body absolutely rebels, even in small increments...but I digress without the PT stretching me out and helping me maintain what I do have. Even now I doubt there's a muscle that isn't knotted in some way (hello tennis balls and tears )...

I have a full typed page of things to do to manage the pain... we can share with each other what we do to live?

Hi JD, sorry to hear about the IME... I have been to several pain specialists and doctor and a lot would say there was nothing wrong with me. I am so thankful to finally have a diagnosis. It's frustrating when you're in so much pain and no one believes you!

And sure we can all share! I'd love to hear any ideas, advice, etc that you or anyone has to offer. Right now I'm mostly just working on Myofascial Release, which is helping but I have had this pain untreated for so long that it seems it just won't loosen up. I try to rest a lot, as I have a hard time sitting/standing for too long. Also, when I'm not at PT my Fiance will give me massages. Have you tried Myofascial Release yet? I am very new to this and my diagnosis, so so far don't have a lot of tips, I'm sorry! Please feel free to share whatever you like. Thanks!

Hey Angel,

Does your PT do the myofascial release for an hour or so?

Again, have a safe trip! TTYAS


SeekingZen

SeekingZen,

My appointments generally last for 45 mins, so usually 30 - 40 mins of release, and the rest I do a bit of stretching. I have been seeing a bunch of different physical therapists, so it really varies. I would love an hour long session of release, but I am so tight that I can only handle so much right now, so I find it's a good amount of time.

And hey, thanks! Can't believe we leave on Friday!! Nervous/Excited! LOL

How are you? How's the pain been?

Well hopefully my inability to heal won't be your results as well. Yes, the PT does stretching and release. I can't handle but maybe 5 minutes total though, my system is so sensitive. Yes, I generally have knots all over my body, especially the trigger points.

I find that using ice for my nerve pain and heat for my muscles is best. I've learned that for me, if I treat the muscles with heat first they retain a residual effect that lasts through my then treating the nerve pain with icing.

Don't do anything for more than 15 minutes for any one area or treatment. If you use a heating pad on an area, only do it for 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes (at least) off...same with ice and other modalities. Longer times cause the body to build up a resistance and then you can find yourself doing something for hours with no relief.

I get contractures, especially in my foot muscles...and two things help here: tonic water with quinine, and infrared heat lamp.

more later

Thank you JD, I appreciate the advice.

I forgot to mention heat, and I'm glad that you brought it up, because I do use a heating pad and will lay on that thing for way longer than 15 mins! Will make a mental note to not do that anymore! Also, will have to try heat then ice. I've always struggled with ice, I hate cold, but maybe if after heat it would feel better for me.