To understand what trigger point injections are and how they work, we first need to know what a trigger point is. When you experience neck or back pain related to an injury or a disease, it’s typically pretty clear where the pain stems from or the cause. However, with chronic pain in the back and neck, it is not always so easily identified.
In these situations, trigger points may be the cause of your pain. So what are trigger points? Often after a physical trauma such as an automobile accident, a sports-related injury, or overuse, a band of muscles or knot will form in an area; this is known as a trigger point.
With trigger points, your muscles may not be able to come to a completely relaxed state; they can limit your range of motion and can be an irritant to the surrounding nerves. Usually, a nodule can be felt just under the skin where the trigger point occurs, making the area tender. If pressed, the pain can radiate to the surrounding areas, known as referred pain.
How Our Trigger Point Injections Help Relieve Muscle Pain
Trigger point injections are administered directly into the affected area. The process is relatively simple, safe, and painless. The procedure is done right in the offices while you sit or lie on your stomach on the exam table. The doctor will locate the trigger point with manual manipulation and mark the area. After the point is identified, the site is carefully cleansed with alcohol.
Typically a numbing agent is used to keep the actual injection from being as painful. Once the area is prepared, a needle is inserted into the trigger point where our blend of all-natural pain relievers is injected. The procedure takes only minutes, and you can resume your normal activities the same day. As the muscles begin to relax in the following days, you will notice an improvement in your pain level.
Trigger point injections can be used to relieve pain from a variety of conditions, including:
- Fibromyalgia
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain
- Chronic neck, back, arm, leg, and shoulder pain
- Migraine headaches
- Sports injury
- Car accident injury
- Pain that takes longer than normal to heal
- Pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments
With chronic neck and back pain and several other types of spinal pains, trigger points are a common cause. Our trigger point assessment is designed to effectively identify what is causing the pain by thoroughly examining the movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves in the upper back and neck area so that the trigger points can be properly treated. Side effects of trigger point injections are rare, but they may include mild tenderness or bruising at the injection site. The pain typically subsides after a few days.
If you would like to know more about trigger point injections and how they can help relieve muscle pain and stiffness, contact our office today for a free consultation.