What is myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)/fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)?
MPS is a very common pain syndrome which involves pain in various muscles, ligaments, and tendons (also known as rheumatism and closely related to fibromyalgia syndrome). The symptoms usually start in one muscle group and they may spread to other parts of the body. Patients with this problem may be sleep-deprived, have limited range of motion of major joints, experience diffuse soft tissue pain, and often suffer depression. For many years, this type of pain was not recognized or validated by the medical community. It is now viewed as a legitimate disorder that merits treatment. Fibromyalgia seems to be a somewhat related disorder but develops without antecedent injury, and rather than tight muscles, the patient may have extra pliable muscles.
