Trigger point injections are a pain management treatment that involves injecting a local anesthetic, sometimes combined with a steroid medication, into a trigger point to relax muscles and relieve pain. Trigger points develop when the tissue surrounding the muscle contracts repeatedly, causing that area of muscle to become tender and inflamed.
Trigger point injections can be used for many different types of pain in the body, including headaches and migraines, neck and shoulder pain, back pain, pelvic pain, and knee pain. They also work well with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Trigger point injections can be used on any part of your body as long as you know where the tender spot is located. Your doctor may use ultrasound imaging to find your trigger point before recommending trigger point injections.
A trigger point is a localized tender spot in the muscle that can cause pain when it is pressed. In some cases, a trigger point can even cause referred pain—pain felt in another part of the body when it affects a nearby nerve.
A trigger point is often identified by a person experiencing pain in a specific location, while the affected muscles remain active and flex with minimal effort. The affected muscle feels painful when pushed or pulled against its normal resting position.
The most common causes of trigger points are:
-Stressful situations
-Repetitive movements (such as typing on the computer)
-Sleeping on your stomach or side with your knees bent or legs crossed
-Sitting for long periods of time
Triggers point injections are used for a variety of reasons.
Trigger point injections are used to treat chronic pain in the following areas:
- Lower back
- Neck
- Arms
- Legs
Chronic pain in the areas mentioned above can be caused by:
- Poor posture
- Injury to the muscle
- Poor mechanics that lead to stress on the muscle
- Joint disorders
Trigger point injections are also used to treat certain medical conditions, such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Tension headaches
What to Expect During Trigger Point Injection
Although the injections are quick and easy to perform, it can be important to know what to expect before you book an appointment.
Injections are performed in a few minutes. The pain specialist determines the location of the trigger point on the patient’s body and administers an injection to that location. Depending on the area of pain, he/she may ask the patient to either sit or lie down.
After treatment, some patients may feel muscle soreness or a slight tingling sensation. This is normal and should go away in a few hours.
Some risks associated with trigger point injections include :
DreamWork trigger point injections are a safe and quite effective way to treat back pain and stress. In most cases, there are no serious side effects associated with these injections. However, it is possible that you may experience some minor side effects after receiving a trigger point injection. These include numbness or soreness at the injection site as well as fatigue and flu-like symptoms.
The risk of complications associated with trigger point injections is very low. The most common risks associated with these injections include bleeding or infection at the injection site. Common side effects experienced after a trigger point injection include temporary numbness or soreness at the injection site, which typically resolves after several days.
The benefits of trigger point injections include the following:
Trigger point injections are used to treat pain associated with trigger points, which is not relieved by conservative treatments such as pain medication or physical therapy.
Trigger points are small muscles that become painful when they are under prolonged tension. When these muscles are tender to the touch, they are referred to as “trigger points.” These tender areas can cause muscle spasms and pain in other parts of the body. This can occur in various places such as the neck and back, shoulders, buttocks, hips, and groin areas.
Trigger point injections are administered by injecting a local anesthetic into the trigger point area to relieve symptoms of discomfort from trigger points. The injection works by numbing the affected area so that it does not feel or function normally.
Trigger points are small, tight areas in muscle tissue where there is pain and stress (trigger point). Trigger points can occur anywhere along the length of a muscle, but they are most commonly found in large muscles such as those in the back, neck, upper arms, and legs. Trigger points can also occur in smaller muscles that surround large muscles such as the biceps and triceps.
To prepare for trigger point injections, follow these steps:
It is important to discuss all current medications with the medical team before undergoing a trigger point injection procedure. This will ensure that you are taking any medications that may be contraindicated with the procedure, as well as any other medications that you may need after the procedure.
Trigger-point injection treatment is not recommended for patients with a history of drug dependence. However, it is wise to discuss all current medications with the medical team before any injection procedure.
Post-trigger point injection may be performed.
After a trigger point injection treatment, patients can use the muscle that was treated but is asked to refrain from vigorous activity for a few days. Most patients will experience pain relief starting between 24 and 72 hours after the time of injection.
In general, the first day or two is spent recuperating from the treatment itself. The muscle is still tender and swollen after the procedure, so it should be avoided until it has healed. Patients should also avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for two weeks after injection.
Once you are feeling comfortable again with the use of your injected muscles, you can start working through some of those exercises that helped you get better quicker!
Pain relief can last about one month. Recurring injections may be needed to achieve long-term pain relief. If the injections consist of anesthetic only, patients can receive injections more frequently than if they also contain steroid medication. This is because steroids increase the risk of tissue damage.
This pain management strategy has been shown to reduce pain by approximately 50% in most people, but it may not be effective for everyone due to individual differences in how their body responds to pain.
