Dr. Cawfield is a leader in the field of soft tissue inflammation which includes problems with multiple myofascial trigger points.
His work, together with that of his colleague Dr. Jay Shah, are creating an understanding how to treat these various growing disorders with acupuncture needling and shock wave.
Myofascial trigger pints are hard, palpable nodules in a taut band of skeletal muscles that may be spontaneously painful or painful only on compression. Therefore, chronic, unresolved musculoskeletal trigger points untreated can display a very broad symptom profile that may not be understood to have any relationship. It's important to have a trigger scan.
From the Mayo Clinic:
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. In myofascial pain syndrome, pressure on sensitive points in your muscles (trigger points) causes pain in seemingly unrelated parts of your body. This is called referred pain.
Myofascial pain syndrome typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. This can be caused by repetitive motions used in jobs or hobbies or by stress-related muscle tension.
While nearly everyone has experienced muscle tension pain, the discomfort associated with myofascial pain syndrome persists or worsens. Treatment options for myofascial pain syndrome include physical therapy and trigger point injections. Pain medications and relaxation techniques also can help.
Signs and symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome may include:
Sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse. These sensitive areas are called trigger points. A trigger point in a muscle can cause strain and pain throughout the muscle. When this pain persists and worsens, doctors call it myofascial pain syndrome.
