Pain clinic #14. Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain: either, neither, or both?

Musculoskeletal pain syndromes and the accompanying physical and emotional sequelae are frequent reasons for self-medication and physician visits. Most musculoskeletal pain syndromes are self-limited, periodically flaring up and subsiding. Fibrositis and myofascial pain syndromes, which affect a significant number of patients with musculoskeletal pain, should be clinically differentiated to reduce unnecessary work-ups and improve patient management at reduced costs. The more common pain locations are reviewed, and a cost-effective, comprehensive approach to management is outlined.