{"id":7328,"date":"2019-07-06T06:21:58","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T06:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7328"},"modified":"2021-06-15T13:56:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T13:56:45","slug":"14-factors-that-increase-the-risk-of-myofascial-pain-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-factors-that-increase-the-risk-of-myofascial-pain-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Factors That Increase the Risk of Myofascial Pain Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition which causes pain and inflammation in specific muscle fibers in the body. It can be one of the most uncomfortable chronic conditions to have to live with, and it can affect every part of your life, impairing even the most basic functions when there\u2019s a flare-up of the condition.
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We know a lot more about myofascial pain syndrome than we did years back, and this is excellent news for anyone diagnosed with it \u2013 and anyone who is still looking for the right condition to describe what they have been going through.
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If you suspect that you might have the myofascial syndrome, pay attention to the symptoms, take a closer look at some associated conditions and risk factors, and make an appointment with your doctor to find the appropriate treatment to bring the symptoms some relief.
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Here are 8 factors that increase the risk of myofascial pain syndrome.
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1. Stress and Stress-Related Conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stress-related conditions and chronic episodes of anxiety <\/a>can be linked directly to myofascial pain syndrome, and it\u2019s believed to be due to the fact that muscle tension often goes along with anxiety conditions. \u00a0If you have any kind of stress-related conditions, you should take note if you experience symptoms like knotting in the muscles or chronic pain around the same time you do anxiety or stress.
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The majority of different anxiety and stress-related conditions can be managed with a few small lifestyle changes, learning the right coping techniques to reduce stress and deal with instances of stress better, and in some cases, medication might be prescribed to change how the body reacts to external stress.
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See your doctor if you experience any kind of chronic stress or depression: There\u2019s no shame in this, and making an appointment with your doctor is the first step to managing the condition you might have.
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2. Connective Tissue Disorders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Myofascial pain<\/a> syndrome can be connected to a range of different disorders that you might suffer at the same time, and the fact that these conditions are related at all can make it much easier for doctors to diagnose.
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Just some of the conditions that can cause or aggravate instances or myofascial pain syndrome include a variety of connective tissue disorders, which includes ones like Marfan\u2019s and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome \u2013 and the more we know about these conditions, the more we find ways in which the associated disorders and symptoms can be managed better.
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If you suspect that you might have a connective tissue disorder or have any signs and symptoms in your family, make an appointment with your doctor so that the proper tests can be ordered. Living with an undiagnosed connective tissue disorder puts you at serious risk of developing conditions and symptoms that could be fatal \u2013 it\u2019s always better to know.
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3. Stretching a Muscle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Muscle injury<\/a> is considered one of the most common ways in which myofascial pain syndrome can be triggered or aggravated, and you should take note of any pain or swelling that you experience after you\u2019ve strained, pulled or injured a muscle \u2013 and this doesn\u2019t always refer only to recent injuries, but can many times also affect older ones that have been around for years or decades.
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Symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome include knots in the muscle, and it\u2019s common for conventional treatments that help muscle strain to be ineffective when it comes to alleviating the symptoms of myofascial pain.
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If you suspect that you\u2019ve stretched or injured a muscle, your first recourse should be an appointment with your doctor in order to establish the extent of the injury and find out which course of treatment will suit the injury best.
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Rest is one of the most important things when it comes to healing muscle sprain, so take any added pressure off the limb even before you make your doctor\u2019s appointment.
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4. Repetitive Strain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Repetitive strain<\/a> injuries are considered one of the most common causes of myofascial pain syndrome, and it can make the condition a lot worse if you have been diagnosed with it or suffer any of the associated symptoms.
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Symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome can include pain or swelling in the muscles, and muscle knots might even be visible from the outside where they can be seen or felt.
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Repetitive strain tends to happen in any muscle or joint where activity happens over and over again, sometimes hobbies like painting, and other times its career-related activities such as typing that triggers it.
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There are ways to cut down on repetitive strain and the damage that it can do to the joints and muscles. Start by taking a look at whatever might be causing the associated repetitive strain and see where you can take a break to rest the affected body part.
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5. Career-Related Injuries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many career-related injuries that can put you at an increased risk of developing myofascial pain syndrome, or worsen the condition if you have already been diagnosed with it.
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Take note if you are in any kind of career that puts additional strain on your muscles, and make an appointment with your doctor when this starts to result in any pain or discomfort<\/a>. When coupled with pain in specific muscle areas that aren\u2019t getting any better, sometimes together with knots in the muscle, it could mean myofascial pain syndrome.
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The pain, discomfort, and swelling can occur anywhere throughout the body from the feet through to the hands. When this happens, adaptations need to be made to reduce the pressure and swelling \u2013 and your doctor can recommend the best possible course of action to bring relief to associated symptoms.
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Sometimes special adaptations or time off could be necessary for injuries to recover before returning back to work. Here, speak to your doctor first.
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6. Posture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Posture <\/a>can be one of the first things that aggravates pain and discomfort that\u2019s felt because of myofascial pain syndrome, and you should take note if your hobby or career puts you in any type of strain position \u2013 or if you have any existing health condition which might affect your posture, such as scoliosis (or curvature of the spine).
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The wrong type of posture, whether you\u2019re doing it due to physical stress or a health condition, can often times cause injury and discomfort in the muscles, and this is what leads to myofascial pain syndrome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Traditional forms of treatment that would bring relief to normal muscle pain usually won\u2019t do the trick if you have myofascial pain syndrome; if you suspect that the condition might be the cause of the muscle pain that you\u2019ve been experiencing, step one should be an appointment with your doctor \u2013 and see what you can do at home or work to reduce any associated strain felt in the muscles.
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7. The Wrong Mattress<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People don\u2019t think about the type of mattress they have nearly as much as they should, and if you are sleeping on an old mattress (or the wrong type for your individual needs) it can help to greatly aggravate health conditions like myofascial pain syndrome.
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Sleeping <\/a>on the wrong type of mattress for your body type, injury or health condition can cause a range of different aches and pains, and doing it for years can lead to chronic pain that makes conditions like myofascial pain syndrome a lot worse and harder to deal with.
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Speak to your doctor about which type of mattress would be best for your individual injury or needs, and take note if you often experience symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome (such as knots in the muscle) during the night or in the morning.
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Find a replacement for your mattress at least once every year, and make sure that you rotate your mattress regularly to avoid \u201csoft spots.\u201d
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8. Fibromyalgia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fibromyalgia <\/a>is a health condition that causes flare-ups of chronic pain that occur throughout the body, and often affects bones, joints, and muscles at the same time during times where the condition is at its peak.
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There\u2019s an increasing amount of people who get diagnosed with fibromyalgia every year, and if you experience severe body pains and periods of lowered immunity that you can\u2019t find another possible cause for, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the possibility of the condition.
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More is known about both conditions today than we did several years ago, and research points to the fact that the two conditions are related \u2013 and if you have one, you should consider the possibility that you might show symptoms of the other.
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Speak to your doctor and take detailed notes of the symptoms you experience as well as the frequency they occur. This can help to make a diagnosis of the right condition easier.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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