Is severe upper arm muscle pain characteristic of fibromyalgia?
Dr. Season: Upper arm pain associated with pain at the neck and upper back is common in fibromyalgia. I think this is a good time to distinguish between fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial pain syndrome is regional muscular pain involving the shoulders, but it can be any region of the body… and it’s associated with stiffness and a tender point. However, it’s different from fibromyalgia in that usually the other components of fibromyalgia, that is the rather profound fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and the stress, anxiety, and/or depression problems are not present with myofascial pain. Both pain problems, that is those of myofascial pain and fibromyalgia pain, are treated in a similar manner. However, with fibromyalgia, attention has to be directed towards the fatigue, sleep disorder, and stress, anxiety, depression. Moderator: What is the diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome and what treatments are there? Dr. Season: With respect to treatments and healing that are d
