Myofascial Pain
Common Diagnoses with Possible Muscular Components
No, you aren't crazy and it isn't "all in your head."
Many conditions and common diagnoses have muscular
components. These are extremely common but rarely considered. Nevertheless,
check all symptoms with your physician. Good differential diagnosis is critical!
For example, several muscles (pectoralis major, sternalis, and scalenes) can
produce angina-like chest pain. However, angina-like chest pain is not
Nature's way of telling you to see a myofascial therapist;
it is Nature's way of telling you to get to the Emergency Room immediately!
If there are no symptoms of heart disease, check muscles.
Before you're on your third or sixth mammogram with
no reason found for chest pain and a referral for psychiatric counseling,
check muscles.
When the mysterious tooth pain won't go away, check muscles.
Before you agree to exploratory surgery for pelvic pain and
a referral for more psychiatric counseling when nothing is found, check muscles.
Below is a short list of possibilities. Do they seem impossible? Many of these
seemingly far-fetched relationships are due to simple entrapments of nerves, blood vessels and lymph drainage.
Is it MS? or is it a trapped peroneal nerve that makes it impossible to left your toes?
Check both -- but check muscles!
|
Common Diagnoses
|
Possible Muscular Origins
|
|
Achilles Tendonitis
|
Gastrocnemius, Soleus
|
|
Atypical Facial Neuralgia
|
Sternocleidomastoid (sternal division), Facial muscles
|
|
Arthritis, of Hip
|
Tensor fascia lata, Vastus lateralis
|
|
Arthritis, of Knee
|
Rectus femoris, Vastus medialis
/ lateralis
|
|
Arthritis, of Shoulder
|
lnfraspinatus, Deltoid
|
|
Back Pain, Lower
|
Quadratus lumborum, Thoracolumbar paraspinals, Gluteus (maximus / medius), Rectus abdominis, Iliopsoas
|
|
Back Pain, Upper
|
Scalenes, Levator scapulae, Rhomboids, Latissimus dorsi, Serratus posterior superior, Thoracic paraspinals
|
|
Bursitis, shoulder (Subdeltoid)
|
Infraspinatus, Deltoid, Supraspinatus, Trapezius
|
|
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
|
Scalenes, Pectoralis minor, Subscapularis, Ligament of Struthers, Pronator teres.
(Nerve entrapment by actual carpal tunnel is rare!)
|
|
Bursitis, hip (trochanteric)
|
Gastrocnemius, Vastus lateralis, Tensor fascia lata, Quadratus lumborum
|
|
Duodenal ulcer
|
Rectus abdominus
|
|
Earache (drum normal)
|
Deep masseter
Sternocleidomastoid (clavicular division)
|
|
Groin Pain
|
Adductors, iliopsoas
|
|
Frozen Shoulder
|
Subscapularis
|
|
Headache (Tension and Migraine)
|
Sternocleidomastoid, Upper trapezius, Posterior cervicals, Splenii, Temporalis.
See also Head and Neck Pain
|
|
Heel Spur
|
Soleus, Quadratus plantae
|
|
Jaw Pain, TMJ Dysfunction
|
Lateral pterygoid, Masseter, Temporalis
|
|
Meralgia Paresthetica
|
Tensor fasciae latae, Sartorius
|
|
Neuralgia, Occipital
|
Splenii, Multifidus, Semispinalis, Suboccipitals
|
|
Plantar Fascitis
|
Gastrocnemius, Soleus
|
|
Pelvic Pain
|
Coccygeus, Levator ani
|
|
Sciatica
|
Posterior gluteus minimus, Piriformis
|
|
Sexual Dysfunction
|
Piriformis, Adductors
|
|
Stiff Neck, Acute
|
Levator scapulae, Sternocleidomastoid, Upper Trapezius
|
|
Tennis Elbow (Epicondylitis)
|
Supinator, Wrist Extensors, Triceps brachii
|
|
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
|
Scalenes, Pectoralis Minor
See also Head and Neck Pain
|
|
Tooth Pain
|
Temporalis (upper teeth), Masseter (upper and lower molars), Digastric (lower incisors)
|
Myofascial Overview &
Resources
|
|
