Trigger Point Injection - Click HERE for Brochure
What Is A Trigger Point?
Trigger points are painful areas of muscle that are tender and may feel like tight bands or knots when pressed. Pressing on the trigger point will "trigger" pain at the area of pressure and often in other areas. For example, pressing on a trigger point at the top of the shoulder may send pain down the arm or up into the neck.
Trigger points are overactive muscle areas that can come from stress, using the muscle too much, or problems with the spine or with posture. They are most often treated by improved posture, reduced stress, and exercise. Sometimes, these treatments will not correct a painful trigger point, and your doctorr may want to treat the problem with a trigger point injection.
How Are Trigger Points Injected?
When doing this treatment, your doctor will mark the skin over the point, clean the skin, and insert a fine needle through the skin into the trigger point area, causing a small "twitch". You may be able to feel this twitch. It tells us that the trigger point has been reached.
Most doctors will then inject a small amount of medicine to numb the trigger area, and you may feel some burning at this time. This step is not required for the trigger point treatment, but will make you feel better during the rest of the treatment. The action of the needle itself is what causes the trigger point to relax.
Once the numbing medicine is given, your doctor will move the needle gently in and out of the trigger point area, changing direction many times to make sure it is all treated. If you feel a lot of pain or if a twitch occurs again, the doctor may numb the area before going on.
Most trigger point treatments take 1-2 minutes. When finished, a small amount of pressure will be applied to stop any bleeding, and a bandage or other dressing may be applied. Your provider may also spray your skin with a cooling spray to reduce any pain on the top of the skin. He may ask you to stretch the treated muscle.
