Why be a member of the International MYOPAIN Society?

Abstract

The focus of the International MYOPAIN Society (IMS) is to improve our understanding and care of myopain conditions including myofascial pain (MP), fibromyalgia (FM), myositis, muscle contracture, ligament strain, dystonias, dystonias, muscle spasm, and other soft tissue pain conditions. Let me explain why these common soft tissues (ST) conditions warrant expanded effort from all health care professionals, health systems, and researchers to better understand and manage them and it begins with membership in the IMS Myopain conditions are the most common cause of chronic pain: Everyone, at some point in their lives, has experienced acute muscle pain associated with trauma or repetitive strain. Yet, few people recognize that these conditions are the most common cause of chronic pain and associated with more visits to health professionals than any other pain condition. Two prior studies of clinic populations found that muscle pain conditions were cited as the most common cause of pain, responsible for 54.6% of chronic head and neck pain (1) and 85% of back pain (2). Another study, in a general internal medicine practice, found that among those patients that presented with pain, ST pain was found in 29.6% of the patient population and was the most common cause of presenting pain (3). The lack of awareness of these muscle pain conditions in clinical practice is surprising. Myopain conditions often progress to chronic pain: When acute ST pain becomes chronic due to the persistence of risk factors for chronic pain, patients, and their healthcare providers can become confused and overlook the soft tissues in favor of treating other conditions, particularly joint pathology. This lack of understanding leads to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and progression of an acute problem to chronic pain. Escalation of care often results with advanced imaging, multiple medications, long-term opioid use, prolonged therapies, implanted devices, and even repeated surgeries for benign joint disorders that are presumed to be the cause of the pain (4–7). Behavioral and psychological components of chronic pain become misunderstood, and some providers assume the patient’s experience of pain is imagined or exaggerated (8,9). As a result, half of the persons seeking care for pain conditions still have pain 5 years later, and up to 25% of them receive long-term disability (10–12). In these cases, the burden upon individuals in terms of inappropriate care, ongoing pain, and suffering is incalculable. We all need to understand myopain conditions: Understanding the etiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of myopain conditions are critical for all healthcare professionals, patients, and the health systems that they work in. The International MYOPAIN Society works to be an inclusive orgnanizations with members representing all clinical areas. Consider joining if you are not currently a member. Here are some the activities that have occurred in the past year and plans for the next year. We would be excited to have you as part of them.