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If TrPs(Trigger Points) are treated immediately and vigorously, and perpetuating
factors and conditions that aggravate and perpetuate the TrPs are
avoided or remedied, TrPs can be eliminated.
Unfortunately, if TrPs
are left untreated, are inappropriately treated, or muscle action is
restricted to avoid pain, the TrP usually become latent.
If the
muscle is pushed to work in spite of the pain, especially if
perpetuating factors exist, active TrPs may develop secondary and
satellite TrPs.
Secondary trigger points develop when a muscle is
subject to stress because another muscle with a trigger point isn't
doing its job. Satellite TrPs develop when a muscle is in a referred
pain zone of another TrP. Without proper intervention and with
perpetuating factors, the TrPs can lead to severe and widespread
chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).
Developing secondary and satellite TrPs can give the false
impression that MPS is a condition that will steadily worsen with
time -- that it is progressive. MPS is not progressive. With proper
intervention, these trigger points can be broken up and eliminated.
FMS and MPS are different syndromes. However, the vast
majority of physicians lump them together because they see many
patients with the FMS/MPS Complex.
Unless doctors have a thorough
knowledge of and familiarity with individual TrPs, they can't sort
out the symptoms. One interesting difference between the two
syndromes is that more women than men have FMS, but MPS affects men
and women in equal numbers. Another difference is that muscles in
locations that are some distance from the trigger points of MPS
have normal sensitivity. In FMS, there is a generalized sensitivity.
FMS is, among other things, a systemic neurotransmitter
dysregulation, with many biochemical causes. There are other
problems as well, but they are all systemic in nature, such as the
alpha-delta sleep anomaly. Myofascial Pain Syndrome, however, is a
neuromuscular condition.
MPS happens because of mechanical
failures -- the mechanics of physics, not biochemistry. Due to the
nature of trigger points, some of the symptoms may seem to be
systemic, but they are not. Initiating events, such as repetitive
motion injury, trauma, and illness, can start a cascade of TrPs.
Index
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