Myofascial syndrome objective evaluation: thermography before and after treatment with mesotherapy and trigger-point injections

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndrome is a very common diagnose in patients with segmental pain and complains are very unspecific; the use of Fischer’s technique, with algometry and special palpation method helps identifying active trigger points (TP). Mesotherapy seems to have better and faster results if associated with Dr Fisher’s technique of paraspinal block (PSB) and TP injections. It can be documented (qualitatively and quantitatively) by infrared thermography beside algometry. The different colors (red to green) or scale of gray in a black&white image indicate more than 1 grade centigrade change. In this paper we described a case of a 54 years old woman with neck pains referred to her right arm. She was treated with Mesotherapy, PSB and TP injections. The results were evaluated by visual analogue scale, algometry, palpation techniques and thermography. The authors concluded that thermography is a promissory method for pain evaluation. More studies are necessary about thermography as an auxiliary method for myofascial pain syndrome diagnose, particularly when associated with repetitives injuries which are usual in our experience.