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Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

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Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Pain Disorders

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Abstract

Myofascial pain is one of the most common forms of human pain characterized by spontaneous and pressure-induced pain in muscle trigger points. Treatment of myofascial pain syndrome is partially successful with conventional analgesics, but a large number of patients remain unsatisfied.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) can relieve myofascial pain by blocking the release of acetylcholine and pain mediators (substance P, glutamate, calcitonin gene-related peptide) from presynaptic vesicles. Ten double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have been published in this area; some of these strongly support the palliative role of BoNTs in myofascial pain syndrome. Using onaA and abobotulinumtoxinA, the successful studies emphasize the importance of a flexible rather than a fixed pattern of injection and injection of more than five trigger points in moderate or severe cases. Although the literature remains controversial, there is hope that future studies taking advantage of our current knowledge derived from positive studies can provide further support for the role of BoNT in management of myofascial pain syndrome.

Fibromyalgia is a systemic disease characterized by diffuse muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, mood disorders, sleep disturbance, bowel disorders, and endocrine dysfunction. Lack of controlled data prohibits the use botulinum toxins for treatment of fibromyalgia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botulinum Toxin Treatment Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Bahman Jabbari (Professor of Neurology and Director)

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  1. Bahman Jabbari
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Jabbari, B. (2015). Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. In: Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Pain Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2501-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2501-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2500-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2501-8

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