Posterior auricular pain caused by the trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscle aggravated by psychological factors

Abstract

Psychological factors play a significant role in the pain mechanism, and psychological approaches may be useful complements to traditional medical and surgical treatments in pain management. The authors report a case of recurrent severe posterior auricular pain caused by trigger points in the right sternocleidomastoid muscle and influenced by stressful psychological situations (e.g., family affairs, job loss) in a 50-year-old man. Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Anesthesiologists.