People who experience muscle pain and stiffness often note other symptoms as well. These may include clumsiness, tremors, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. Depression or irritability may be associated. A syndrome with many trigger points in different muscle groups, accompanied by related symptoms, may be called fibromyalgia or muscular rheumatism. There are several other names which have been used to describe similar syndromes.
Myofascial pain is an important component of other pain syndromes.
If you have arthritis, and are protecting your hands, you may strain your neck or shoulders. If you have post-herpetic neuralgia, or another condition with increased sensitivity of the skin, you have probably made certain changes in the way you move. Your body will work to reduce a particular pain, though this may put strain on the upper and lower back. Back pain is an example where muscular pain can be a major contributor. And discs can be slipped without causing any pain at all.