Myofascial pain syndromes--the great mimicker.

Five myofascial pain syndromes, some mimicking more serious diseases, have been presented. They were diagnosed as and treated for: headache, shoulder bursitis, lumbar herniated disc with radiculopathy, angina pectoris and appendicitis. An understanding of these pain problems, produced from trigger points in muscles and ligaments, is important in order to differentiate myofascial pain syndromes from more dangerous diseases and to avoid unnecessary and expensive diagnostic procedures.