Myofascial Inflammation (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)

Myofascial inflammation refers to a non-bacterial inflammatory condition of the muscles and fascia, commonly leading to chronic pain that is often misdiagnosed. The condition can be triggered by factors such as wind-cold invasion, fatigue, or trauma. If left untreated during its acute phase, it can evolve into a chronic condition. Chronic myofascial inflammation may also result from repeated strain, wind-cold exposure, or poor microcirculation, leading to prolonged ischemia and hypoxia in the muscle and fascia tissues. This causes a non-bacterial fibrous tissue inflammation, resulting in persistent or intermittent muscle pain, soreness, and numbness. Symptoms tend to worsen in humid or cold weather, fatigue, or rain. The affected area may feel stiff, and pressing on it can cause soreness or reveal nodular tightness, with relief occurring when massaged.

Diagnosing myofascial inflammation is challenging as it lacks specific diagnostic tools, so it is largely dependent on the clinician's experience. This often leads to misdiagnoses, as some conditions that mimic the symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome may be incorrectly identified. With medical progress and experience, it has become clearer that other conditions can present similarly, especially when their early-stage symptoms are atypical. Diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, and somatization disorder must be differentiated and excluded. For example, the early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis can also cause neck and back pain that worsens at night or in wet weather and can be recurrent and difficult to treat. Certain spine conditions may also compress the spinal nerves, leading to muscle pain in the back and hips, which can be mistaken for myofascial pain, especially when symptoms are not well defined in the early stages. Additionally, some patients suffering from chronic pain may actually have physical symptoms due to underlying mental health factors, such as depression or anxiety, which can also lead to misdiagnosis.

Keywords: Myofascial Inflammation, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pain, Diagnosis