TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS

Myofascial trigger points are hypersensitivity areas with a circumscribed area of tenderness with palpable tense band of muscle fibers that cause pain resembling the existing typical daily pain in the specific region and with specific travel further from the area of the intense pain with associated local twitch response upon palpation. Patients complain of having decreased range of motion, spasms and subjective weakness.  Poor sleep patterns and fatigue are also common.

The treatment will focus on flexibility, strengthening and aerobic exercises. If conservative management fails, anesthetic spray and stretch or trigger point injections with anesthetic medication and steroids or botulism toxin injections may be required.

A trigger point injection is an injection of local anesthetic with or without steroid medication into the trigger point of the muscle.  Patients usually report instant relief of the pain, also sometimes the effect of the steroid medication could be seen several days later.