Fibromyalgia Tender Points
Tender points in Fibromyalgia are certain places on the body that can be extremely tender to the touch but which typically don't ache or radiate any pain with a lack of pressure. Tender points are typically found in 18 mapped spots around the body. These include the front and back of the neck, the upper part of the chest area, the lower backside of the neck into the shoulders, the shoulder blades, back, hips and within the knee. The locations of tender points can change from patient to patient and tender points are able to appear and vanish. The painful sensation linked with tender points can go from really mild to serious.
Tender points can be uncommonly painful when even very minimal touch is applied to the area. Some individuals can experience tender point discomfort so harsh that even putting on clothing that touches the area could result in discomfort. Other individuals may experience mild tender points that will often appear and vanish. While tender point pain doesn't generally spread to near by tissue or result in sustained pain even if no pressure is being exerted , this is not the case for all patients. For some, tender point pain may be experienced on some level all of the time.
When the original diagnosing criteria for Fibromyalgia were published in 1990 by the American College of Rheumatology, the clear presence of active tender points in at least 11 of the 18 established locations was a diagnosing requirement. These diagnostic measures have since been changed. Now while tender points are still a recognized distinguishing characteristic of Fibromyalgia, their presence is not the only requirement for a clinical diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Some Fibromyalgia patients don't feel tender points in any way.
There has been substantial misunderstanding about tender points. Many sources of data about Fibromyalgia, including many medical professionals, confuse tender points in Fibromyalgia with trigger points. There are distinct differences between the two. Trigger points pertains to a commonly shared symptom between Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. A Myofascial trigger point is a painful firm knot of muscle tissue found in the connective tissue near muscles and bone. These dense cramped knots generally radiate constant pain and can have an effect on surrounding tissue. They can be highly unpleasant to touch which regularly results in their confusion with tender points, but the presence of the hard ball of cramped muscle tissue and the continuing radiating quality of the pain is the distinguishing characteristic between trigger points and tender points. The misunderstanding between these two sets of symptoms is made even worse by the fact that a large number ofFibromyalgia patients may suffer with both tender points and trigger points.
Treating Fibromyalgia tender points is difficult. As with many of the treatment approaches for Fibromyalgia, what may do well for one individual may do zilch for another. Many people treat tender points with drugs, nutritional supplements, moderate exercise, therapy options and modifications in diet. The most effective means of treatment might be a mixture of one or two approaches. The secret to effective treatment is to work in collaboration with doctors and test various treatment possibilities to define over a period of time what is going to be most effective for the individual.
Tender points can be uncommonly painful when even very minimal touch is applied to the area. Some individuals can experience tender point discomfort so harsh that even putting on clothing that touches the area could result in discomfort. Other individuals may experience mild tender points that will often appear and vanish. While tender point pain doesn't generally spread to near by tissue or result in sustained pain even if no pressure is being exerted , this is not the case for all patients. For some, tender point pain may be experienced on some level all of the time.
When the original diagnosing criteria for Fibromyalgia were published in 1990 by the American College of Rheumatology, the clear presence of active tender points in at least 11 of the 18 established locations was a diagnosing requirement. These diagnostic measures have since been changed. Now while tender points are still a recognized distinguishing characteristic of Fibromyalgia, their presence is not the only requirement for a clinical diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Some Fibromyalgia patients don't feel tender points in any way.
There has been substantial misunderstanding about tender points. Many sources of data about Fibromyalgia, including many medical professionals, confuse tender points in Fibromyalgia with trigger points. There are distinct differences between the two. Trigger points pertains to a commonly shared symptom between Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. A Myofascial trigger point is a painful firm knot of muscle tissue found in the connective tissue near muscles and bone. These dense cramped knots generally radiate constant pain and can have an effect on surrounding tissue. They can be highly unpleasant to touch which regularly results in their confusion with tender points, but the presence of the hard ball of cramped muscle tissue and the continuing radiating quality of the pain is the distinguishing characteristic between trigger points and tender points. The misunderstanding between these two sets of symptoms is made even worse by the fact that a large number ofFibromyalgia patients may suffer with both tender points and trigger points.
Treating Fibromyalgia tender points is difficult. As with many of the treatment approaches for Fibromyalgia, what may do well for one individual may do zilch for another. Many people treat tender points with drugs, nutritional supplements, moderate exercise, therapy options and modifications in diet. The most effective means of treatment might be a mixture of one or two approaches. The secret to effective treatment is to work in collaboration with doctors and test various treatment possibilities to define over a period of time what is going to be most effective for the individual.
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Tender Points are one of the defining Symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Learn more about what Fibromyalgia is HERE.
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