Trigger point injection therapy is a treatment used to relieve the pain and stiffness caused by trigger points in muscles. Trigger points are like knots in muscles, and they prevent them from relaxing properly. In order to relieve trigger point tenderness, special injections containing anesthetics are put directly into each trigger point. These injections “shut down” the trigger points, providing quick relief from pain.
Trigger point injections are designed to relieve myofascial pain, which plays a major role in low back pain, neck pain, chronic headaches and fibromyalgia. They provide a variety of benefits to the patient:
- quick, long-lasting relief from trigger point pain
- improvement in areas affected by referred pain
- minimize the effects of other symptoms, including fatigue, stiffness, and disability
- improved symptoms allow for better mobility and better sleep
- no side-effects and very quick recovery time after treatment
Trigger point injection therapy is a simple, safe procedure. The procedure takes about 30 minutes. The physician will palpate the skin, looking for trigger points that are causing pain. The physician can then determine how many trigger points can be injected at every trigger point session. Once the trigger points have been detected, the doctor may use a special needle connected to a monitor or locate the exact position of the trigger point. When the trigger point has been found, a small needle will be used to inject a small amount of local anesthetic into the area. If trigger points are particularly painful or inflamed, a corticosteroid may also be injected into the site.