Conditions We Treat

ACCIDENTS
Prolonged pain, limited motion and decreased function following accidents and injuries may be due to muscle trigger points.

ARTHRITIS
Arthritis can cause misalignment of the bones which strains the muscles. The muscle then forms trigger points which tighten the muscle and increase the arthritis pain. Treating trigger points can significantly decrease the pain associated with arthritis.

BACK PAIN
There are many causes of back pain. Any cause of back pain can make the back muscles form trigger points. This can cause persistent back pain even after the original cause of the pain has resolved.

BURSITIS
Bursitis is an inflammation of the tissue surrounding a joint. The inflammation can cause the muscle to form trigger points. Also, trigger points in the muscle can cause pain that feels like bursitis.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Arm muscle trigger points are a frequent cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.

COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME
Complex regional pain syndrome, also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, may result from trigger points causing tight muscles which pinch nearby nerves.

FAILED BACK SURGERY
Many people get unsatisfactory or temporary relief of their back pain from surgery. Muscle trigger points may have developed before or after the surgery and be a significant source of pain.

FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia is a condition of widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body, sleep problems and fatigue. Most fibromyalgia patients have trigger points as part of their problem. Treating the trigger points can significantly decrease the pain associated with fibromyalgia and improve function in daily activities. Many doctors and patients think of fibromyalgia as a “final diagnosis” of a poorly treatable, permanent, incurable disease. We consider a fibromyalgia diagnosis as a starting point to search for treatable problems to decrease pain and improve function. We see fibromyalgia as the starting point of a journey to a better life, not as a life sentence of pain.

FROZEN SHOULDER
Frozen shoulder refers to painful, limited shoulder motion. Shoulder pain from any source (such as arthritis, bursitis, rotator cuff tendinitis or tears) will cause trigger points to develop. This keeps the muscle tightened and unable to move normally. Treating the trigger points helps to restore normal movement and reduce pain.

GOLFER’S ELBOW
Golfer’s elbow (pain on the inside of the elbow) is frequently caused by trigger points of the arm muscles.

HEADACHE
Migraine headache, tension headache, recurrent daily headache and persistent headache can vary from mild to disabling. The numerous muscles of the upper back, shoulder, neck, jaw and face develop trigger points from poor posture and poor body mechanics in daily activities. We will work with you to eliminate trigger points and teach you healthier posture and movement patterns to reduce or eliminate headaches.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Irritable bowel syndrome can cause trigger points in the abdominal wall muscles which aggravate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Treating trigger points can reduce the pain and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

LOW BACK PAIN
Low back pain can result from herniated discs, arthritis, spinal stenosis and other causes. Any cause of low back pain can induce trigger point formation in the muscles of the back which then aggravate and prolong the back pain. Although treating the trigger points does not cure the underlying problem, it can reduce pain and improve mobility. If back pain develops after a fall, trigger points may be the only source of pain.

MYOFASCIAL PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION
Myofascial pain is pain in the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia (connective tissue). This pain results from trigger points which are abnormally contracted muscle fibers which stress these tissues. Dysfunction means that the muscles are not moving normally. This can cause abnormal stress on nearby or distant muscles, spreading the pain and dysfunction.

NECK PAIN
The numerous muscles of the neck, upper back, shoulder, jaw and face develop trigger points from poor posture and poor body mechanics in daily activities. All of these trigger points contribute to neck pain. We will work with you to eliminate trigger points and teach you healthier posture and movement patterns to reduce or eliminate neck pain.

PELVIC PAIN OR PAINFUL INTERCOURSE
This can be caused by tight and tender pelvic muscles with trigger points. This can result from ovarian cysts, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, childbirth, surgery, trauma or other problems that occurred recently or many years ago. The trigger points may persist long after the initial disease or event. Treating the trigger points may reduce or eliminate the pain.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Pain in the foot, including the symptoms of plantar fasciitis can be caused by trigger points in the muscles of the leg or foot. Treatment of plantar fasciitis may fail unless the trigger points are treated.

PYRIFORMIS (OR PIRIFORMIS) SYNDROME
The piriformis muscle may develop trigger points after injury or overuse, with pain in one or both buttocks. The tight muscle may also pinch the nearby sciatic nerve, causing pain or numbness down the back of the leg, also known as sciatica.

REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY
See “Complex Regional Pain Syndrome”.

SCIATICA
Sciatica is pain in the buttock or the back of the leg caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve and has many causes. One cause is pressure on the nerve from nearby muscles which are tight from trigger points.

SHOULDER PAIN
See “Frozen Shoulder”.

SPORTS INJURIES
Many sports injuries involve muscle strains which create muscle trigger points. These may cause persistent or recurring pain long after you would expect an injury to have healed.

SURGERY: PROLONGED PAIN AFTER SURGERY
Your original disease or muscle injury during surgery can cause painful muscle trigger points which persist after your surgical wound has healed. These trigger points may mimic the symptoms of your original disease or cause a new pain pattern.

TENDINITIS
Tendinitis can result in trigger points which tighten the muscle and strain the attached tendon.

TENNIS ELBOW
Repetitive movements of the elbow can cause trigger points in the arm muscles that cause pain of the outer side of the elbow.

TMJ (TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT PAIN OR SYNDROME)
The muscles of the head and face may develop trigger points which cause pain at the temporomandibular joint.

TRIGGER POINTS
Trigger points are constantly tightened areas within the muscle. There may be pain within that muscle, in the muscle tendon, at the joint where the muscle attaches to the bone and the bursa where the tendon crosses over the joint. It may also cause pain at areas distant from the trigger point. In many cases, the pain location may not be the trigger point. Frequently, one trigger point will induce pain in several different areas.

UPPER BACK PAIN
See “Back Pain”

WHIPLASH
Whiplash includes muscle strain which typically forms trigger points, causing pain and limitation of motion.