All of us have experienced muscle pain of one form or another, whether from overuse, stress, or injury. With rest and some form of therapy, the pain fades, and we soon return to our old selves. But what if the pain does not go away—what if, in fact, it seems to dig in deeper, causing continuing difficulties carrying out our daily responsibilities?
After a North Carolina car crash, the pain of muscle injuries sometimes becomes chronic, resulting in Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). Acute muscle injury in a car accident can cause trigger or tender points that develop into MPS. Repeated muscular stress that leads to muscle tightness and inflammation can also cause the development of trigger points and MPS. No one is certain why it develops in some cases but not others.
What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. In this condition, pressure on sensitive points in your muscles (trigger points) causes muscle pain and sometimes in seemingly unrelated parts of your body. This is called referred pain.
This syndrome typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. This can be caused by repetitive motions used in certain jobs or hobbies or by stress-related tension on your muscles. Motor vehicle collisions can cause Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
Treatment options can sometimes include either physical therapy or trigger point injections.
Symptoms
Symptoms can differ from case to case, but generally they include:
- Deep, aching pain in a muscle.
- Pain that persists or worsens.
- A tender knot in a muscle.
- Loss of sleep due to pain or soreness.
Causes
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.
This pain can occur from the constant use of certain muscles from job-related duties and can be made worse by being in an automobile crash. The jarring of a sudden automobile collision can worsen preexisting symptoms or create new ones that were not there before.
Treatment
Treating MPS can be rather expensive and can quickly exhaust your resources. Treatment frequently takes months or years. North Carolina personal injury settlements or verdicts can help compensate you for past medical expenses and reasonably expected future treatment such as (medication, physical therapy, trigger point injections, and myofascial stretching) that you need to help you deal with the pain. When you suffer because someone else is at fault, it is only right that they or their insurance company should bear the financial burden of healing.
Chronic pain may mean you cannot work for a while or cannot work as many hours as you have in the past. A settlement can help you financially offset any work restrictions that become necessary due to your pain and suffering. Under North Carolina law, you are also entitled to pursue damages for the physical pain and emotional suffering resulting from Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
Representation for Myofascial Pain Syndrome-Related Injuries
Maginnis Howard’s personal injury attorneys have decades of experience handling car crash personal injury cases. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee– meaning that you pay no attorneys’ fees unless we reach a settlement or obtain a verdict or settlement in your case.
Contact us today to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Charlotte, Raleigh, or Fayetteville. Visit our contact page for details about each office location, or click on the conversation at the bottom of your screen to send a confidential chat.
