Trigger point injections are used where bundles of muscle fibers become tight, knotted and unable to relax. They can occur as a result of injury, spinal or skeletal abnormality or poor biomechanics. Treatment to relieve trigger points includes targeted trigger point injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids, chiropractic care, massage, stretching and physical therapy. In intractable cases, botulinum toxin injections often provide substantial and lasting relief.
You can expect to be at the clinic for one to 2 hours. When you arrive, the nurse will briefly review some information with you, provide you with a gown to change into, and attach monitors to check your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level. An intravenous catheter may also be placed in your vein so that sedation or other medications can be given. The procedure itself takes only five to 15 minutes and may involve one to five injections. You will then be taken to recovery for continued monitoring, while the nurse gives you some discharge instructions.
Every patient is different, but most people report pain relief and increased mobility after treatment. Often our doctors will recommend combining other treatments with these injections to improve pain relief and reduce the risk of recurrence. Application of cold or heat, massage, exercise, relaxation training, biofeedback or TENS therapy may be suggested or prescribed.