MRE could provide a definitive diagnosis for people with muscle pain, Mayo Clinic s...(discoverysedge.mayo.edu/de07-1-biotech-e...),Health

Myofascial pain syndrome is sometimes confused with fibromyalgia, but the two conditions are clinically different. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition typically characterized by widespread pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points. Myofascial pain syndrome, is a more localized pain that is associated with trigger point tenderness. A trigger point is a small lump in a band of tight muscle that, when pressed, triggers a reproducible pattern of referred pain.

In the past, myofasical pain syndrome has been very difficult to diagnose. These new findings may be the next step for a diagnosis and in the future may help to refine treatment options, Dr. Basford says.

In some chronic cases of myofascial pain, combinations of physical therapy and trigger point injections are needed to relieve pain. In addition, the condition is sometimes treated with the spray and stretch technique, which involves spraying the muscle and trigger point with a coolant and then slowly stretching the muscle.

'/>"/>