The name is a mouthful, and the suffering caused by the condition can last a lifetime. With car and truck crashes being a leading cause of myofascial pain syndrome, it’s little wonder that my personal injury and car accident lawyer colleagues and I have become very familiar with the problem.
As the video below describes, the myofascia is a membrane that covers all the major skeletal muscles. When the lining gets damaged or contracts, as often happens after a traffic accident, muscle pain develops. Myofascial pain syndrome occurs when the lining does not heal correctly or relax sufficiently. Patients often feel intense, long-lasting pain in areas far removed from the site of the myofascia injury or dysfunction.
Myofascial pain usually does not go away when sufferers only take painkillers. Injections of muscle relaxants at trigger points or an advanced form of targeted massage therapy known as myofascial release can provide many patients relief. Sometimes, nothing works.
When we consult with drivers or passengers who continue feeling debilitating muscle pain long after being hit by someone else, we ask if they have spoken about myofascial pain syndrome with one of the almost always numerous doctors and physical therapists they have visited. Knowing what causes the pain is necessary for eliminating it.
EJL