Myofascial pain syndrome

[whatnextwiththispain]

Does anyone have any experience of this?
I have been experiencing severe back pain and sciatica for nearly 8 weeks.
It is very painful to walk or stand and I am pretty much on bed rest, but trying to do the physio exercises as advised.
I also have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. According to rheumatologist this has nothing to do with either of these conditions, there is no fracture and no prolapsed disc.
I am taking slow release paracetamol and an antispasmodic as well as my usual RA meds.
I am having acupuncture as recommended by rheumatologist and using ice packs as advised by acupuncturist.
I am struggling mentally now as the pain is not improving and I can't do any normal tasks. Also finding it difficult to sleep as the pain wakes me up.
Just looking for some reassurance and hope.

I read an article in the Times magazine a few years ago where an artist's arms seized up almost completely, so he couldn't work. He said he tried everything and the only thing that helped was deep tissue massage, but it didn't last. He eventually worked out that it was myofascial tightness and started using a massage ball to loosen it up. He was able to get back to work. At the time I was experiencing similar pain in upper arms and my bum muscles, so i tried it too. I found that it helped a lot. I can't find the article but I found this link which might help.

https://www.tuneupfitness.com/blog/self-myofascial-release-techniques-using-massage-balls

Thank you. I am reading this now. Rheumatologist says I can't have massage because of severe osteoporosis, but I will ask about this. (Last massage I had fractured a rib).

I would start taking ibuprofen as a pain management. It’s an anti-inflammatory and helps me immensely more than paracetamol. Paracetamol literally does nothing for me. I had frozen shoulder for a few years and saw a physio who give me massages. I was in so much pain that’d I’d be crying during the massages. My fascia were so sensitive.

In my right arm, I currently have both tennis elbow and golf elbow even though I play neither of those sports! 😂 Again, physio exercises and ibuprofen is how I’m managing them. Oh and this physio also gave me electrical treatments to relax the muscles.

I've had myofascial release treatment and it wasn't like being massaged, it was more like having your limbs being gently pulled/pushed. It wasn't at all painful.

Yes, I agree with this. The article I linked above talked about how you need to go in gently and it doesn't have to hurt to get results.

@JingsMahBucket I had frozen shoulder some years ago. I'd forgotten. At the time it was excruciating. At one point I was getting the treatment through a folded up towel because it was too painful to touch. In hindsight I think the practitioner used myofascial release techniques, although he was a chiropractor. He also used an electrical thingy. Sorted me out in about ten sessions over six months or so. Never had trouble with it since.

I can't have ibuprofen as I have had 3 gastric bleeds, even with ppi cover. I am taking arcoxia but only allowed one per day for my joint pain. It is difficult to juggle the different meds. I on methotrexate for the RA too. I feel quite nauseous sometimes with the tablets. The doctor doing the acupuncture said he could do an injection into the trigger point but would prefer to do 3 more acupuncture treatments before deciding. I am trying hard with the physio but it really hurts.
I will definitely ask about the massage balls.
Thanks everyone.