What are Trigger Point Injections?
Trigger points are small, irritated spots within a muscle that produce pain. They may be tender when pressed and may spread referred pain out to other areas. Trigger points can be caused by illness, injury, or by the repetitive strain of poor posture. Trigger point injection is a treatment that uses needles to break up and release these painful spots in the muscles. A physician injects the trigger point with anesthetic, saline, or steroids. Then the needle is moved up and down through the knot several times. The injection numbs and relaxes the spasm within the muscle, increasing blood flow and allowing the patient to stretch the area, reducing pain. While trigger point injection can be useful for anyone experiencing this type of pain, it is commonly used specifically for patients with muscle pain disorders such as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. These patients may be especially prone to developing these painful knots within their muscle tissue.Search for trigger point injection near you.