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MPS, or myofascial pain syndrome, can have many varied symptoms. The most typical one is the appearance of muscle knots (1/2" to 3/4" in diameter, 1-2 cm) that are very tender to the touch. They are often called "trigger points" and are most frequently found in the neck, shoulders and lumbar, or lower back region. Since the pain triggered in one point can be "referred" elsewhere, MPS pain in the shoulder may cause tingling in the neck, or a trigger point in the neck can cause a muscular contraction migraine headache.
The referred pain often makes diagnosis difficult. For example, the contraction of the levator scapulae muscle that moves the shoulder may cause shortness of breath as a result of acute pain suffered while inhaling. Flushing, hypersensitivity or localized sweating can sometimes occur. Of all these MPS symptoms, the most typical is pain that changes in intensity. It can range from numbness to a muscular spasm.
Working conditions sometimes aggravate MPS. Constant stimulation and use of muscles affected by the illness (like repetitive movements) aggravates other muscle groups, which develop into a chronic condition.
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