Journal of Pain & Relief
Open Access

Abstract

Myofascial pain (MP) is a commonly recognized condition that can compromise any of the estimated 400 muscles of the body. It is characterized by pain of the affected muscle and the presence of a non-dermatomal pattern of referred pain that is specific to each individual muscle. This referred pain can be distant from its origin; it can display a peripheral, central, or local distribution. The presence of a trigger point, a localized hyperirritable muscle band able to reproduce the pain and its associated symptoms constitutes the clinical landmark of MP. Overall, MP is a common component of most chronic pain syndromes and is calculated to be present in 10% of the US population. It is also considered the main cause of disability among working-age individuals. The lack of familiarity with MP by many specialties is presumably explained because this entity does not represent a threat to life itself. The referred pain associated with MP complicates the clinical diagnosis since its location can mimic other pathologies. Using a traditional diagnostic approach, the anatomic location of the pain drives the use of imaging and laboratory tests. This can result in expensive workups, unnecessary in-hospital care, and prolonged visits to the emergency room. Unsurprisingly, since the referred pain of MP of the ITL muscle is located at the frontal aspect of the torso (chest, abdomen, and pelvis), it can represent a clinical challenge even to seasoned clinicians. Because the literature on ITL MP is sparse, I considered relevant to characterize the manifestations, diagnosis, and clinical implications of ITL MP.

Biography

Email: carlos.j.roldan@uth.tmc.edu