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Living with chronic muscle pain can be frustrating and debilitating. If you’ve tried rest, physical therapy, pain medication, or other treatments without lasting relief, trigger point injections may help.
Trigger point injections inject medication directly into painful “knots” in the affected muscle tissue for long-term pain relief.
Trigger points are sensitive, painful areas that form in muscle tissue when the fibers get stuck in a contracted state. Pressing on a trigger point can produce pain at the site as well as referred pain in other areas. For example, a trigger point in the shoulder could cause neck, head, or arm pain.
A trigger point injection delivers local anesthetic directly into the trigger point, or the myofascial trigger point. This helps relax the contracted muscle fibers and temporarily relieve pain.
A trigger point injection may provide targeted relief when general methods like pain medication, icing, or heating pads are not enough.
Healthcare providers use trigger point injections to treat myofascial pain syndrome.
Trigger point injections are commonly used for chronic pain in the most common muscle groups, such as:
– Lower back
– Neck
– Shoulders
– Arms
– Legs
They can also treat tension headaches, TMJ pain, trigger point pain, chronic pain conditions, and pain from conditions like fibromyalgia.
You may benefit from trigger point injections if you have lingering muscle pain or acute trauma that has not gotten better with more conservative treatments.
Trigger point injections are not usually the first line of treatment. They are considered when rest, OTC medication, massage, stretching, heat/ice therapy, and other options have not provided adequate relief.
Trigger point injections are generally safe when performed by an experienced healthcare provider. Potential risks include:
– Bleeding, bruising, or infection at the injection site
– Temporary increase in pain after the procedure
– Allergic reaction to the medication
– Injury to surrounding tissues like nerves or blood vessels
The main benefits of trigger point injections include:
– Directly targets the source of intense pain
– May need fewer pain medications
– Reduces muscle knots and spasms
– Improves range of motion
– Significant improvement in pain relief
– Avoids more invasive or complex treatments
When other approaches fail to relieve muscle pain, trigger point injections can provide lasting results without surgery or prescription medications.
The downsides of trigger point injections include:
– Can be painful while repeatedly inserting the injection
– Temporary soreness, redness, swelling, or bruising of the surrounding tissue
– Requires repeated treatments for maximum benefits
– Not a cure for the underlying cause of trigger points
– Relief duration varies individually
Proper healthcare provider training and technique minimize the risks. We strive to make the procedure as comfortable as possible.
How Long Does an Injection Last?
Most patients experience significant pain relief starting 24-72 hours after the injection. The benefits typically last around one month, but the duration can vary. Some may get longer-lasting results from one injection, while others require repeat treatment about once a month until their muscle feels adequately relaxed.
Is a Trigger Point Injection Painful?
Injecting medication into an already painful, sensitive knot in the muscle can cause some discomfort. However, the injection pressure sensation lets our provider know the medication is going into the right trigger point location.
What Should You Expect After a Trigger Point Injection?
After your injection, you may have some residual soreness or numbness at the injection site. This usually goes away within a few days. We recommend taking it easy on the treated muscle for a day or two. You should notice an improvement in your pain a day or two after the injection.
Dry needling also targets trigger points using needles without injecting any medication. Here’s how the two modalities compare:
Trigger Point Injection
– Injects anesthetic and/or steroid
– Provides temporary pain relief
– Given by doctors or pain specialists
Dry Needling
– No medication injected
– Stimulates trigger point using a needle
– Performed by physical therapists, chiropractors
Understanding the differences allows patients to choose the better option for their situation. We offer both trigger point injections and dry needling to effectively treat muscle pain trigger points.
At Limitless Chiropractic in Quincy, IL, we are your pain management specialists. We combine these targeted injections with chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, massage therapy, and other modalities.
Our goal is to find the source of your pain and create customized solutions to restore mobility and function. Dr. Felsman provides compassionate, patient-focused care that goes beyond just masking symptoms.
Contact us today to see if trigger point injections can help get you lasting relief.
