What are common misconceptions about trigger points?
• Simply treating the trigger point should be sufficient. ANSWER – If the causing stress is not recurrent and if there are no perpetuating factors, that may be true. After the trigger points have persisted for some time, the muscle must be retrained to normal function and full-stretch range of motion. • The pain cannot be as severe as the patient says and must be largely psychogenic. ANSWER – Believe the patient. Patients have rated their pain as severe as or more severe than pharyngitis, cystitis, angina, herpes zoster, and rheumatoid arthritis. • Myofascial pain syndromes are self-limited and will cure themselves. ANSWER – An acute uncomplicated trigger point may spontaneously convert to a latent trigger point within a week or two if the muscle is not overstressed and if there are no perpetuating factors. Otherwise it might evolve into a chronic myofascial pain syndrome. • Relief of pain by treatment of skeletal muscles for myofascial trigger points rules out serious visceral disease
