Trigger Point Injections

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injection (TPI) is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. Many times, such knots can be felt under the skin. Trigger points may irritate the nerves around them and cause referred pain, or pain that is felt in another part of the body.

Trigger point injections can be used to treat fibromyalgia and tension headaches. The technique is also used to alleviate chronic pain involving tissue that surrounds muscle, that does not respond to other treatments. In a Trigger Point Injection we insert a small needle into your trigger point. The injection contains a local anesthetic or saline, and may include a corticosteroid. With the injection, the trigger point is made inactive and the pain is alleviated. Usually, a brief course of treatment will result in sustained relief. Injections are given in our office and usually take just a few minutes. Several different sites may be injected in one visit.