What is the Difference Between Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Muscular pain is very common, and many people experience discomfort in their muscles at some point in their lifetime. Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are two conditions that are characterized by overlapping symptoms such as pain and muscle tenderness.

The key difference between fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome is their symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread body pain along with other symptoms such as headaches, bowel problems, fatigue, and mood changes, while myofascial pain syndrome is a condition mainly characterized by muscular pain. Fibromyalgia causes chronic pain, while the pain in the myofascial pain syndrome is short-lived.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Fibromyalgia
3. What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome
4. Similarities – Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome
5. Fibromyalgia vs Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Fibromyalgia vs Myofascial Pain Syndrome
7. FAQ – Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all over the body, along with other symptoms such as sleep problems, fatigue, and emotional and mental distress. The primary symptoms of fibromyalgia are widespread body pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. This condition is caused by repeated nerve stimulation that triggers the brain and spinal cord to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that ultimately signal pain. There are different factors that lead to these changes, such as genetics, infection, and physical or emotional events.

Figure 01: Fibromyalgia Muscle Pain

Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, and overnight sleep study. Furthermore, the treatment options for fibromyalgia include medications such as pain relievers, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counselling.

What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition that affects the muscles and the thin connective tissue called fascia around them due to inflammation. It leads to muscular pain. The most common causes of myofascial pain syndrome are muscle injury, repetitive motion, and poor posture. The common symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include pain that is aching, throbbing, tight, stiff, or vice-like, small bumps, nodules or knots in the muscle that cause pain when touched or not touched, sore, tender muscles, weak muscles, and reduced range of motion.

Figure 02: Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome can be diagnosed through questionnaires and physical examination. Furthermore, treatment options for myofascial pain syndrome may include pain medications, physical therapy, dry needling, trigger point injections, spray and stretch, low-level light therapy or cold laser, ultrasound therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture, and relaxation therapy.

Similarities Between Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

1. Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are two conditions characterized by pain and muscle tenderness.
2. Muscular pain can be present in both conditions.
3. Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
4. They can be treated through pain relievers and therapies such as physical therapy.

Difference Between Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Definition

1. Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects all over the body, causing widespread body pain along with other symptoms like headache, fatigue, sleep problems, and mood changes.
2. Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition that affects muscle and fascia, causing mainly muscular pain.

Causes

1. Fibromyalgia is caused by repeated nerve stimulation that involves changes leading to abnormal increases of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain triggered by genetics, infection, and physical or emotional events.
2. Myofascial pain syndrome is caused by muscle injury, repetitive motion, and poor posture.

Symptoms

1. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include pain all over the body, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, sleep problems, headaches, and bowel problems.
2. Symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include muscular pain, small bumps, nodules or knots in the muscle that cause pain when touched or not touched, muscle tenderness, muscle weakness, and reduced range of motion.

Diagnosis

1. Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed by physical examination, blood tests, and sleep study.
2. Myofascial pain syndrome can be diagnosed by questionnaires and physical examination.

Treatment

1. Fibromyalgia is treated with pain medications, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counselling.
2. Myofascial pain syndrome is treated with pain medications, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, steroids, antidepressants, sedatives, home remedies (icepacks, heat packs, and exercises), physical therapy, dry needling, trigger point injections, spray and stretch, low-level light therapy or cold laser, ultrasound therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture and relaxation therapy.

The following table summarizes the difference between fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome.

Summary – Fibromyalgia vs Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are two conditions that have overlapping symptoms such as muscular pain, muscle tenderness, etc. Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain all over the body along with other symptoms such as headaches, cognitive difficulties, sleep problems, bowel problems, fatigue, and mood changes while myofascial pain syndrome is mainly characterized by muscular pain. This is the summary of the difference between fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome.

FAQ: Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

1. What are the main symptoms of fibromyalgia?

• The main symptoms of fibromyalgia include pain and sensitivity, general stiffness, chronic fatigue, mental exhaustion, painful menstruation, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

2. What causes fibromyalgia?

• Fibromyalgia is caused by repeated nerve stimulation that increases certain chemicals in the brain abnormally, often triggered by genetics, infection, and an event such as physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress.

3. Does fibromyalgia ever go away?

• There is no proper cure for fibromyalgia. However, there are treatments to control symptoms like pain relievers, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes like learning Tai Chi or taking yoga classes.

4. What does myofascial pain feel like?

• Pain in the muscles may feel aching, throbbing, tight, stiff or vice-like. Small bumps, nodules, or knots in the muscle cause pain when touched and not touched, and there are sore, tender muscles in the body.

5. Can myofascial pain syndrome be cured?

• There is no proper cure for myofascial pain syndrome. Although the symptoms of the acute form of the condition may spontaneously disappear, the chronic form symptoms can be managed through pain relievers, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy, TENS, acupuncture, and relaxation therapy.

Reference:

1. “Living with Myofascial Pain Syndrome.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Overview -Fibromyalgia.” NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Fibromyalgia pain sites APS 2019” By SigTif – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Lower back pain” By Injurymap – InjuryMap – Free Human Anatomy Images and Pictures.(CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Difference Between Pandemic and Epidemic Difference Between Pubic Lice and Scabies Difference Between Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers What is the Difference Between Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic What is the Difference Between Dyshidrotic Eczema and Herpetic Whitlow