Chronic pain is a common dilemma encountered in daily practice. However, optimal treatment of chronic pain is a clinical challenge, especially for patients with chronic myofascial pain and fibromyalgia, known as fibromyalgia syndrome. CMP has also been termed myofascial pain syndrome, the usage of which is not recommended, because CMP is now recognized as a disease. CMP is characterized by chronic pain caused by fascial constrictions and multiple regional trigger points. A fascia is a connective tissue surrounding muscles. A trigger point is a highly sensitive area within the muscle resulting from noxious stimuli and is painful to touch. Myofascial pain is extremely common, and everyone may develop a trigger point at some time in life. In the United States, an estimated 14.4% of the general population suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain and 21-93% of patients with regional pain complaints of having CMP. FMS is another medical condition characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood disturbances.The term âfibromyalgiaâ derives from Latin, fibro-, meaning âfibrous tissuesâ, Greek myo-, âmuscleâ, and Greek algos-, âpainâ, which means âmuscle and connective tissue painâ. FMS is estimated to affect 2â4% of the population, with a female to male incidence ratio of approximately 9:1. In contrast, CMP affects men and women equally. Both CMP and FMS most often affect 30-60 years-old individuals. The cost in care for chronic musculoskeletal pain is high in developed countries.
Chronic Pain: Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia: Jin Jun Luo and Nae J Dun
Last date updated on April, 2024