Fibromyalgia is an excellent example of the "switching" phenomenon ? we may ingest a food which causes inflammation in the intestinal tract, sending signals to the brain, which are then expressed as diffuse pain in the muscles. This phenomenon happens because the body uses many of the same neurotransmitters and hormones to activate pathways in many different organ systems. Fibromyalgia is an extremely common chronic condition that can be challenging to manage. Although the etiology remains unclear, characteristic alterations in the pattern of sleep and changes in neuroendocrine transmitters such as serotonin, substance P, growth hormone and cortisol suggest that dysregulation of the autonomic and neuroendocrine system appears to be the basis of the syndrome. Fibromyalgia trigger points are specific areas of the body that are highly sensitive to the touch and cause great pain, but without redness, swelling or heat in the surrounding joints or muscles. These trigger point areas, also referred to as a tender points or pressure points, feel sore when pressed.

Tender points are specific places on the body, generally the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and upper and lower extremities, where pain occurs in response to pressure. Like arthritis , fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities. Tender points are sharply localized and often bilaterally symmetric. Some points may correspond to sites of pain and others may be painless until palpated. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.

Tender points are the areas physicians touch or feel to determine the diagnosis of FMS and are not areas in which the muscles are knotted or have a lumpy feel.Trigger points have been well studied by two physicians, Dr. Many massage therapists, physical therapists, and myofascial trigger point therapists have training in defusing trigger points. Tender points are specific places on the body where people with fibromyalgia feel pain from even the slightest pressure. These places include but are not limited to the neck, shoulders, back and hips. Tender points are areas on the body that are tender and painful when palpated (“Palpate” means to use one’s hands to assist in diagnosis, pressing and feeling the area). Palpation is usually fairly gentle, but not in the case of FMS diagnosis.

Tender points are used to diagnose fibromyalgia. The eighteen specific spots are located at insertion points of muscles by the knees, elbows, neck and back. Tender points are commonly found around the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, back of the head and around the breast bone. Fatigue and sleep disturbance are common complaints. Tender points are commonly found around the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, back of the head, and the sides of the breast bone. There are 18 designated tender points that should be checked .

Tender points are often found in the neck area, around the elbows and knees, down the spine, and in the hips. This condition may cause a feeling of fatigue that can be mild or severe. Tender points are sites where nociceptors, such as polymodal-type receptors, have been sensitized by various factors [29 ,30 ]. Our data suggest that acupuncture stimulation of tender points may activate sensitized polymodal-type receptors thereby relieving pain.

Trigger points, when pressed, refer pain to another part of the body; they are not sore themselves. The locus of the referred pain may be quite near to the trigger point, or quite distant from it. Triggering Event: This theory states that there is a single event, or a series of events, that somehow breaks down the body?s ability to handle the stresses of everyday life. Examples of these events may be a car accident, an allergic reaction, an exposure to a toxin, severe illness or emotional trauma.

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