Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS)
Millions of Americans have musculoskeletal pain. An estimated 10 million Americans (5% of the US population) suffer from either myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) or fibromyalgia (FM). While they have much in common, these are now recognized to be two distinct syndromes. MPS is a localized disorder, and FM is a systemic disorder.
Because patients with these two distinct disorders have similar symptoms, it is easy for both patients and physicians to be confused about the correct diagnosis. Although there are clear-cut differences between the classic manifestations of the two syndromes, many patients have symptoms that appear to have features of both. Some diagnostic tests do not show abnormalities in either condition. Both MPS and FM are considered diagnoses of exclusion. This means that you must exclude the possibility that the patient’s symptoms are due to some other disorder before you can conclude that the proper diagnosis is MPS or FM.
Janet Travell, M.D., was the pioneering researcher in the field of MPS. She describes this syndrome as "a regional muscle pain disorder that is characterized by tender spots in taut bands of muscle that refer pain to areas overlying or distant to the tenderness." Some patients develop MPS following trauma, although they may not be aware of the connection since the trauma can precede the onset of pain by weeks or even months.
Besides trauma, other potential causes or perpetuating factors for MPS include muscle strain and frequent exposure to cold, overwork, and fatigue. Some mechanical problems with the structure of the body are also thought to be possible causes of MPS. These may include a short leg, an asymmetrical pelvis, a long second toe in the foot, and dental abnormalities. Other factors that are thought to lead to MPS are overly tight bra straps, as well as compression of the hamstring muscles on the back of the thigh by the edge of a seat. The typical sitting posture of today’s office worker at a desk or computer terminal, forward head posture and slumped posture, has also been linked with the increased prevalence of MPS in recent years.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) Treatment:
Therapy Without Surgery or Drugs
Treatment methods vary significantly. Many people do not obtain pain resolution after conservative treatment such as traditional physical therapy and medications. AtClear Passage, we have been successful helping many people who have been unable to find pain relief with other methods.
For treatment to be successful, the trigger points must be inactivated. The main goals in MPS are to inactivate these trigger points, stretch tight soft tissues so they return to their normal resting length, strengthen weak muscles, and eliminate perpetuating factors, those environmental, mechanical, occupational and nutritional factors which might predispose people to recurrences.
We treat difficult, persistent MPS pain with unique treatment methods. From your first visit, we use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms and discover the cause of your pain. We begin by treating tight and dysfunctional areas in your body.
A few minutes into your first treatment, our therapists will be providing a gentle stretch for a sustained period of time to areas of your body where we feel abnormal tensions. This has been very effective in decreasing and frequently resolving pain symptoms. Goals of treatment include restoring alignment, balance and mobility to the pelvis, sacrum, thoracic and lumbar spines. We address headaches, neck, back and hip symptoms. We will treat the affected connective tissues, and abdominopelvic organs. Other treatment goals focus on decreasing pain and restoring range of motion. We work with you to improve your function and your tolerance for physical activity to return you to an active, productive lifestyle.
For several years, Clear Passage therapists have instructed physicians, doctors and dentists of the prestigious American Academy of Head, Neck, Facial Pain and TMJ Orthopaedics in a "whole body approach" for treating head and neck pain associated with this condition. Many of these physicians feel that the "missing link" in physical therapy for treatment of MPS is to address the structural, full body component. If the pelvis, spine, neck and fascial support structures of the head, neck and jaw are under stress and out of balanced alignment, body pains and headaches will frequently occur as a result.
Our treatment is unique, and designed to complement your physician’s care. We use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms and to discover and treat the causes of your pain. We examine and treat all affected areas. We may begin with the lower back and pelvis to create a stable foundation for your spine. This will indirectly affect the joint mobility, tissue tension and ranges of motion of the back and neck tissues and structures. Then, we work to restore alignment, balance and mobility to the head, jaws, neck and shoulder girdle (including connections to the upper rib cage and thoracic spine), muscles, connective tissues, and organs. We provide a gentle stretch for a sustained period of time to areas of the body where we feel abnormal tension. This generally reduces or resolves pain symptoms . Goals of treatment include decreasing pain, increasing range of motion, improving function and tolerance for physical activity with return to productive lifestyles.
Our directors spent years studying techniques and developing protocols to restore patients’ bodies to a state of balance, harmony and increased function. Treatment sessions are individualized and last approximately one hour based on individual needs. Treatment is one-on-one, and is in private treatment rooms. From your first visit, we use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms and discover the causes of your pain. We begin by treating tight and dysfunctional areas in your body.
What should I expect from treatment?
The best way to determine if this work will help you is to schedule two or three visits. After three visits, most patients find their pain level noticeably improved. After six visits, they begin to notice significant structural and functional improvement in their bodies. Our goal is to help you achieve a pain free, more functional and productive life, with all your goals met.
If you have questions, we can schedule a personal consultation in one of our clinics or over the telephone. If treatment appears indicated, we will send you all necessary paperwork including a medical history questionnaire and release of medical records. We may request clearance from your physician for the very few conditions which would prevent us from treating you. These include diseases such as HIV and active cancer which could possibly worsen with treatment. Other contraindications are hemophilia, abnormal cysts and active infection.
Your treatment is always conducted in a lovely, private room. The first treatment includes an initial evaluation, and lasts up to 1½ hours. Thereafter, treatment sessions are generally 45 minutes of uninterrupted manual therapy. As manual therapists who often work on delicate areas, we are sensitive to your physical and emotional comfort level. We feel you should be fully informed in every step of treatment. We take the time to explain our theories and techniques while we are working with you. Your personal privacy is respected. Patient gowns are available each session for those who would like to use them.
Treatment feels similar to massage but calling our work massage is like calling the space shuttle an airplane. Our work is a very "site specific" slow and deep body work to the soft tissues of your body. We use our hands to locate abnormal tensions in and around the organs, muscles, connective tissues and support structures of the body. We then apply gentle, specific sustained manual forces designed to reduce adhesions and encourage normal mobility, tone and function. Most patients say they find treatment sessions interesting, informative and relaxing. Most patients with pain complaints usually begin to notice pain reduction or relief after the first two or three sessions.
Therapist Qualification
Therapist qualifications are a significant part of your comfort level. We invite you to visit our "About Us" page. Belinda Wurn is a physical therapist with more than 20 years experience. Larry Wurn is a massage therapist with more than 10 years experience. Both are nationally certified body workers who have performed literally thousands of manual therapy treatments. They are therapists trained and licensed to practice manual ("hands-on") therapy in Florida in their respective fields of physical therapy and massage therapy.
Following licensure, they both attended extensive continuing education courses, as well as many courses on manual pelvic, urogenital and abdominal therapy treatment in America. They furthered their education by studying manual urogenital therapy at an osteopathic medical school in France. Their goal is to provide a quality and level of service which is unavailable anywhere in our area. Clear Passage Therapies’ staff is committed to give our patients the finest one-on-one treatment available, in a relaxed and healing setting.
