Trigger point injections may provide pain relief to those who suffer from chronic conditions in various parts of the body or tension headaches.
A trigger point is a knot that forms in a muscle when it is unable to relax. This knot can cause pain in the affected area and may even trigger pain in other areas of the body. Trigger points can be caused by inflammation, injury, or trauma.
While medications and massage therapy may offer some relief, they may not be enough.
Here are five reasons why you should consider trigger point injections:
- Used to treat different types of pain Trigger point injections are used to treat various types of pain in different areas of the body, including the neck and shoulders, back, arms or legs, tension headaches or migraines, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain syndrome. Our staff will determine an appropriate treatment plan for you and determine if trigger point injections are suitable.
- Fast pain relief It takes 15 minutes or less, and multiple areas can be treated during the same visit. A thin needle is used to inject lidocaine or another anesthetic into the trigger point, blocking the pain receptors in the nerves near the knotted muscle. Patients experience relief almost instantly. You may need to repeat injections monthly, but we will monitor your progress and let you know how frequently you’ll need to come.
- Safe with minimal side effects You may feel slight soreness or numbness at the injection site, which is temporary. In rare instances, bleeding at the injection site or infection may occur. We prevent infections by keeping our treatment rooms clean and using sterilized needles and equipment. We also clean the injection site(s) on your body before administering trigger point injections.
- Recovery timing varies. Your care team will explain what to expect after trigger point injections, including whether to avoid strenuous activity for a few days.
- Effective when other therapies are not If you have tried different medications, massage, ice or heat therapy, aromatherapy, or even physical therapy without success, consider trigger point injections. They’re safe, work fast, and have been effective for many of our patients.
If you suffer from chronic pain or tension headaches, schedule an appointment with one of our trigger point injection specialists at Envista Medical at (661) 587-0700 .