Conventional MPS treatments

• NSAIDS: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen and many more are used to treat muscle pain. However, long-term use of NSAIDs can lead to unpleasant and even fatal side effects such as digestive tract problems (ulcers, bleeding, heartburn, nausea and bloating); fluid retention and swelling; cardiovascular problems (heart attack, blood clots and stroke); and liver and kidney damage.
• Antidepressants: Some doctors prescribe tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve myofascial pain and facilitate sleep. Side effects include cconstipation, confusion, sedation, blurred vision, weight gain, caries, stomatitis, hypotension, tachycardia, Parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesia, urine retention, cognitive dysfunction, liver toxicity, urticaria and many more.
• Myofascial Release: Also known as soft tissue mobilisation, myofascial release focuses on treating tightness (trigger points) in the fascia with the goal of relieving myofascial pain and improving movement. A physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath or massage therapist locates the trigger point and applied a gentle stretch. When the tissue has relaxed, the stretch is gradually increased until the tissue is fully relaxed.
• Trigger Point Injection (needling): A needle is inserted into a trigger point in order to inactivate it and relieve muscle tension. In some cases an anaesthetic or corticosteroid medications are injected into a trigger point. Please be aware that injection of an anaesthetic is less effective compared with acupuncture (dry needling) according to several controlled studies.
• Stretch and Spray Technique: This technique involves spraying the muscle which contains the trigger point with a coolant, such as fluorimethane and then gently stretching the muscle.
• High Voltage Galvanic Stimulation: This therapy uses direct current and is based on the reaction of two elements with opposite ions (positive and negative) when charged. The positive part acts like ice, reducing circulation and swelling. The negative part acts like heat, increasing circulation and speeding up healing.

Natural Alternatives for Myofascial Pain Syndrome

• Dietary Supplements: Trigger points and myofascial pain can develop and be activated due to muscle injury, repetitive muscle strain and excess stress on the muscles and many other triggering factors. When this occurs time and again, chronic inflammation will set in, which had we sufficient natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients in our body, would resolve itself. However, the vast majority of people with myofascial pain are deficient in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients that may even be a triggering factor. Several scientific studies have shown that chondroitin, glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), ginger root extract and resveratrol are an effective and side effect-free alternative for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome.
• Medical Acupuncture: According to a World Health Organization (WHO) consensus report, medical acupuncture of relevant trigger points is an effective treatment of myofascial pain.

Living with myofascial pain

• Sleep: Getting Sufficient Sleep (varies from person to person but eight hours is considered ideal) will keep your immune system up and running and give you the energy you need throughout the day.
• Exercise: Regular low impact exercise like walking and swimming can help ease pain and other myofascial pain symptoms. Gentle stretching exercises like yoga will strengthen your core muscles and help to give you good posture.
• Diet: Many people with myofascial pain are deficient in vitamins, minerals and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients. Nutrients that people suffering with myofascial pain are most commonly deficient in include minerals like boron, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc and vitamins like A, B6, B2, E, C, D3, folic acid, niacin, niacinamide, pantothenic acid and nutrients like glucosamine, chondroitin, grape seed extract, quercetin, DHA and EPA (Omega-3-fatty acids) and GLA. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is recommendable but in today's age of processed food, virtually no one can get the RDA of the above mentioned vitamins and minerals from diet alone. Supplementing with natural nutritional supplements is a good complement to a healthy and varied diet.
• Decrease Stress: Stress often makes myofascial pain symptoms a lot worse resulting in tenser muscles and tendons and tighter trigger points. Find ways to relieve stress that work for you.

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