434.328.2774 purveza@painspinecenters.com
434.328.2774 purveza@painspinecenters.com
Do you suffer from muscle pain that gets worse upon touch? You are likely a candidate for trigger point injections. As a very effective treatment for pain relief, the injection provides immediate relief.
Trigger point injections are used to treat more chronic or severe issues, such as fibromyalgia. A trigger point is a tight band or knot in the muscle. The knot forms when the muscle cannot relax and causes the muscle to twitch involuntarily. This irritates the nerves causing a referred pain. Referred pain is pain that is felt in a part of the body that is not the source of the pain. These injections are used for patients dealing with chronic headaches, fibromyalgia or myofascial syndrome.
As with joint injections there is no preparation for trigger point injections and they take only a few minutes . The doctor will inject a numbig medicine and/or corticosteroid into the trigger point to alleviate pain. Though few side effects are common the patient may experience twitching or mild pain as well as a bruise. The doctor will advise the patient on side effects during the appointment.
There are many effective ingredients in trigger point injections. They include:
In a minimally invasive procedure, the injection will allow for you to regain range of motion in affected areas, or trigger points. Typically these points are in the upper back and shoulders, though they can also occur in the lower back and extremities. Patients find that painful spasms make everyday activities difficult, and trigger point treatment is a great option for pain management. Your doctor will do the procedure quickly and accurately so you can continue your regular routine. Many times these will allow you to continue with a physical therapy schedule.
Though every patient reacts differently, you can expect the effect of the injection to lasts from days to weeks. You can also have a local anesthetic used to help at the site of injections. Discomfort after your injection can be treated with heat, cold compress, and over the counter, anti-inflammatory medications.
You can have injections on an as-needed basis, or regularly. Your doctor will decide a pain management schedule based on what medications are being used and your level of discomfort. You can expect to be on the road to recovery and get back to your regular routine with the aid of trigger point injections.