Fibromyalgia is a superstar in mis-diagnosis of chronic pain; a mysterious entity applied to numerous symptoms, the main being chronic muscle pain, radiating pain, stiffness in muscles and joints, migraine headaches, low energy levels, constantly sleeping (sometimes thought to be mono), swelling of tissues, low motivation, moodiness and fatigue.  Some believe that doctors have gone so far as to diagnose Fibromyalgia as a culprit when UNSURE as to what is actually wrong!! 

Pain in fibromyalgia can be so intense, the sufferer would rather render their days in bed than attempt the pain of moving around the room, making a meal, go to the restroom, or even venture outside.  Easy to understand the inherent depression that can consume an individual when faced with daily challenges such as these. Inactivity contributes to loss of muscle mass and strength, compounding the trouble. So, what is a Trigger Point, and how does it effect the body?

Picture those long balloons used to make balloon animals, then squeeze both ends and watch the center bubble up. That is what a Trigger point (TP) is! The contraction of muscle fibers within the muscle that never relax, and can be readily found through touch. Now imagine a nerve ending the size of a strand of hair being squeezed by your fingers, and this describes one source of pain associated with TPs. They squeeze around everything from nerve endings, organs, bone, blood vessels, joints, and will cause light to extreme pain, reduce blood supply to organs and tissues, and limit movement.
Trigger Point Therapy has a multitude of uses in treating chronic pain! A trained therapist will locate the lumps and bumps throughout the muscle tissue, and “break them apart” using a combination of sustained pressure applied in very specific directions.  Be aware that these are nasty little creatures that are painful to work out.  Everyone has TPs to some degree, yet sufferers of chronic pain tend to have deep rooted knots which can sometimes fuse together forming larger knots, and even fuse with the bones nearby further reducing flexibility and increasing pain during movement. 

Fibromyalgia sufferers usually have masses of TPs through the upper back, shoulders, and neck.  The base of the neck contains an outlet of several nerve cords, which run through the back, shoulders, arms and chest.  Removing TPs around these nerve endings greatly reduces the pain, headaches, and moodiness associated with fibromyalgia.

TPs can be treated through self-massage, yet use caution when employing this method.  Resources are available to educate and guide, yet it is recommend to seek a trained therapist whenever possible as there are some things only the therapist will be able to accomplish. 

Stay tuned for more on self massage for Fibromyalgia.

Namaste from Massage Solutions Las Vegas