Fibromyalgia Tender Points vs Trigger Points: What’s the Difference?
What are fibromyalgia tender points?
In fibromyalgia, your body may have tender points in specific areas of your body. These points become over-sensitive to touch or pressure. Even a small amount of pressure or touch can cause significant pain. There are about 18 tender points in your body. These points are not randomly located in your body. But they are located in specific areas such as;
- Back of head
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Upper chest
- Elbows
- Hips
- Knees
Doctors and healthcare professionals used to rely on these 18 tender points in your body. If a person has extreme pain in his body and has at least 11 out of 18 tender points, it confirms fibromyalgia. Nowadays, the overall assessment of fibromyalgia involves the broader assessment of symptoms, but still, these tender points may help understand the extent of sensitivity and pain of fibromyalgia patients.
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are different from tender points. They are tight bands in your muscles that can cause pain locally (at the area where they are located) and radiate pain to other parts of your body.
For example, if you have a trigger point in your shoulder, it may cause pain to radiate from the shoulder to the arm, back or neck. These points are often found in people with myofascial pain syndrome, but they can also have fibromyalgia.
Unlike tender points, which are very sensitive to touch, trigger points are not always sensitive to touch but feel like a small lump or knot. When pressure is applied to these points, it sometimes relieves the pain or causes muscle twitching.
The key difference between fibromyalgia trigger points and tender points:
| Features | Tender points | Trigger points |
| Location of pain | specific and symmetrical | Not always symmetrical, can occur anywhere in the body |
| Response to pain | cause pain even with mild touch or pressure, does not cause referred pain | pain occurs with deep pressure, can radiate to other areas of your body |
| Associated conditions | fibromyalgia | myofascial pain syndrome |
| Types Of pain | no knots or tight bands of muscles | knot or tight band of muscles are present |
| Feel on touch | located in the same area | they are localised but can also cause referred pain |
Can You Have Both?
Yes, many people with fibromyalgia also have trigger points. The presence of trigger points makes the fibromyalgia treatment more challenging. Tender points occur due to nerve sensitivity, while trigger points concern muscle tightness and dysfunction.
How are they treated?
ANF Therapy®️ is a new holistic treatment approach based on the principles of frequency medicine, offering fast and long-lasting results. It uses small ANF Devices that are applied to the affected areas (tender points and trigger points). ANF Therapy®️ aims to support the body’s natural healing mechanisms, helping to reduce pain and inflammation.
Application of ANF Devices:
Your ANF Therapists will apply different types of ANF Devices to certain areas of your body. They will focus on relieving pain and resolving inflammation associated with tender and trigger points.
Expected outcomes:
According to Dr. Mikel H-G Hoff, most patients experience quick relief in their symptoms soon after applying ANF Devices. Still, outcomes can vary from person to person, depending on the disease severity.
Start your journey with ANF Therapy® :
ANF Therapy®️ is the newest treatment for managing various injuries. If you have trigger or tender points and are experiencing severe pain, consult an ANF Practitioner or find an ANF Therapist at https://www.anftherapy.com/find-clinic/ to discuss how ANF Therapy®️ can be helpful! It provides a drug-free approach that aims to address not only symptoms but also the root cause of the disease.
If you’re a healthcare practitioner and want to enhance your clinical skills with frequency medicine, learn more about the ANF Therapy®️ and ANF Clinical education program by visiting www.anfacademy.com.
What are other ways to treat tender points and trigger points?
Some other ways can also help you manage fibromyalgia tender points and trigger points. But they might not be as effective as ANF Therapy®️. These are:
- Gentle exercise
- Stretching techniques
- Maintain sleep hygiene
- Physical therapy
- Massage
- Myofascial pain release
Takeaway:
Tender points and trigger points may sound similar but differ in cause, location, and pain response. Many fibromyalgia patients have both, which may complicate the treatment. ANF Therapy®️ offers a drug- and chemical-free solution that aims to support the body’s natural healing mechanisms to resolve inflammation, improve blood flow, and promote recovery. This therapy is meant to address the root cause instead of masking the symptoms only. Consult an ANF practitioner today to discuss how ANF Therapy®️ can help.
