How to Recognise and Treat Trigger Points in Soft Tissue Rheumatism
As if pain was not bad enough by itself, some of us have to deal with it on a continuing basis every time we move a joint. Chances are it is stemming from Soft Tissue Rheumatism, which, if left undiagnosed, could take a few days to disappear if we are lucky, or take years, if at all. The best thing to do in such cases is to get it checked and treated as soon as possible.
What Is Soft Tissue Rheumatism?
Soft Tissue Rheumatism is a very common disorder where a person experiences pain or swelling in the tissues, namely the muscles, joint capsules, tendons, tension sheaths, ligaments, bursae, fascia, etc., that surround a joint. This kind of pain is called musculoskeletal pain. The joints most commonly affected by the condition are those of the wrists, shoulders, neck, back, knees, ankles and feet. It can be caused by overusing joints, causing sudden injuries, incorrect postures, stress on joints because of structural abnormalities, infections, etc. Some examples of conditions stemming from soft tissue rheumatism are tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, bursitis, capsulitis, etc.
Diagnosis Is Important
Physical examination is key to the diagnosis of Soft Tissue Rheumatism, as extensive laboratory tests and radiographs have not been found to be very helpful. The diagnosis is followed by the identification of its trigger points.
Identifying the Trigger Points
Trigger points are sensitive and painful points in muscles that feel hard and knotty, and they are usually the result of physical trauma, which could be either big ones or small repetitive incidences. It is usually identified by the doctor through response patterns to various stimuli. For example, when pressure is applied to a trigger point, an involuntary jump response in some other part of the body is elicited, usually accompanied by wincing or crying out. When a needle is inserted at a point or transverse snapping palpitation is conducted on it, a local twitch response identifies that point as a trigger point.
Treatment of Soft Tissue Rheumatism Through Trigger Point Injections
Relief from musculoskeletal pain caused by Soft Tissue Rheumatism is usually obtained through trigger point injections, where small needles inject local anaesthetics directly into the trigger points. A few sessions of this have been known to bring sustained relief to patients. However, not all musculoskeletal pain caused by Soft Tissue Rheumatism is located at the point of trauma, and hence the Myofascial Pain Syndrome needs special mention.
The Peculiar Case of the Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a kind of Soft Tissue Rheumatism where, if pressure is applied on a trigger point, the pain is felt in another, unrelated part of the body. This kind of pain is also known as referred pain. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. It can be caused by repetitive motions that often happen in certain kinds of jobs or hobby activities. Injecting a steroid or an anaesthetic into the trigger point helps, and sometimes even the act of inserting the needle, which could also be a dry one inserted in and around the point, helps release the muscle tension. This can be followed by physiotherapy, which is now easier to do.
Given the different conditions and their varying treatment methods, any kind of muscle pain needs to be thoroughly checked by a doctor so relevant treatment can be started immediately.