Trigger Points vs regular pain

I don't know what everyone else's experiences are, but when they press on a "tender point" -- specific, targeted areas of your body -- it makes me practically jump out of my skin. I can be sore and achey in all kinds of places, but those participate spots elicit a sharp pain that physically makes me wince.

If you google "tender points" there are lots of images on the internet that show where they are located on your body. Under the old standards, if you elicited pain in 11 of the 18 spots when pressed, and had pain in all four quadrants of your body (left/right side, and above/below the waist) for at least three months, then you met the diagnosing criteria for fibromyalgia (if I recall correctly).

More recently I have been reading that the tender point test is no longer an official diagnostic criteria. Most of us here have been run through a barrage of medical tests/bloodwork to rule out other conditions. Have you had a complete lab workup done?

Hi, Oki, and welcome!  I"m so glad you joined our family.  Have you tried gentle massage for your neck and scalp?  I get a lot of pain in that area too and this helps.  Make sure it's a GENTLE massage.  If you are interested, here is a link to find a good massage therapist in your area.

 

http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/index.html?utm_source=%2Ffindamassage%2Flocator.aspx&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=redirect

 

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  There is a chart showing the trigger points, too.  That will help you understand better.  Let us know what the doctor has to say, okay?

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine