Fibromyalgia causes a person to have tender points that cause pain and discomfort when touched. There are distinct differences between fibromyalgia tender points and trigger points. Often, the terms tender points and trigger points are used as if they mean the same thing, but that is actually incorrect.
Tender points are known pressure spots used as a diagnostic aide with fibromyalgia. Trigger points are inflamed areas found along the muscles experiencing myofascial pain syndrome.
What are Fibromyalgia Tender Points?
Fibromyalgia syndrome, aka rheumatic syndrome, is a soft tissue rheumatism characterized by deep body-wide muscle pain, chronic fatigue and clinical depression. Fibromyalgia does not deform joints as other types of rheumatic conditions or display itself in any other physically visible manner. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia is difficult.
The family practice physican's usual battery of tests and measures may not be sufficient enough to treat fibromyalgia tender points, which is why fibromyalgia patients are commonly referred to neurologists. An interview and physical examination are the primary diagnostic tools available today.
During the examination, the doctor uses a number of commonly known fibromyalgia tender points to determine if the syndrome is present.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition involving a single muscle or a group that is inflamed and often results in referred pain. In cases of referred pain, the place the person is feeling pain is not where the muscle pain is being generated from.
Although a person can experience both pain syndromes concurrently, the points themselves remain different.
Trigger points are used to help define the areas of myofascial pain. They are hyper-irritable locations on a tight band of skeletal muscle. When compressed, they are painful enough to invoke wincing or a twitch response. Referred pain is often involved with trigger points.
More on Fibromyalgia Tender Points
Tender points are used to diagnose fibromyalgia. The eighteen specific spots are located at insertion points of muscles by the knees, elbows, neck and back. When one of the symmetrically spaced spots is pressed, an increase in overall body pain sensitivity is experienced in addition to the pain felt at the manipulation site. Each area is about the size of a penny requiring a trained professional to accurately locate it. Someone without fibromyalgia would only feel a slight pressure in these areas when tested.
According to the American College of Rheumatology guidelines, fibromyalgia syndrome is likely if a person feels pain in 11 or more of the 18 tender points when they are lightly pressed and has had widespread chronic pain for over 3 months.
While trigger points are conditions to be treated, tender points are diagnostic in nature. Knowing where and what the fibromyalgia tender points are will make conversations about pain and pain management less confusing.
More from this Author
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs
Focusing on Physical Activity for Diabetics
Dengue Fever is Not Confined to Africa
References:
American College of Rheumatology
 |
