What Are Trigger Point Injections and How Do they Work?

What Are Trigger Point Injections and How Do they Work?

Published: August 16, 2019

Trigger points (or muscle knots) are sensitive spots found in skeletal muscle. They often accompany chronic pain disorders and can cause both local and “referred” pain (that is, pain in another part of the body). Patients can have one trigger point or many, but either way, trigger point pain is incredibly disruptive to sufferers and can complicate existing injuries by slowing recovery. Trigger points can contribute significantly to back and neck pain, sometimes as a cause and other times, as a symptom. If you suffer from trigger points and have been researching possible treatment methods, you may have heard of a treatment called trigger point injections. But you may be wondering, “What are trigger point injections and how do they work?” or asking yourself, “How can I find a qualified pain specialist near me?” Fortunately, our Texas pain specialists in San Antonio are here to tell you what you need to know about pain management injections for chronic pain management. Read on to learn more about this treatment option, and to find out if it may be the right choice for you.

More About Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections involve inserting a mixture of anesthetic and steroid directly into the affected trigger point. These injections are performed by pain specialists at a doctor’s office and can help soothe muscle pain in affected patients. Since trigger points occur when a muscle is unable to relax, the injection works by helping the muscle to release, inactivating the trigger point. Patients may require multiple rounds of injections to see the best results and may receive injections in one or multiple sites. For patients who have allergies or drug sensitivities, dry needling techniques—where the needle is inserted without injecting any medicines—is an option as well.

It’s important to note that not all trigger points require injections—some will respond to physical therapy, especially if they are not fully formed yet. But for patients whose trigger points are fully formed or chronic, injections and needling are a safe and effective treatment method that has a high success rate and can significantly alleviate pain symptoms.

treatment for tension headaches

What Conditions Can Benefit from Trigger Point Injections (TPI)?

These injections can be incredibly useful in treating pain in various muscle groups. TPI can be used for sufferers of fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and myofascial pain syndrome, to name a few. However, injections are generally only performed on patients whose pain has not responded to other forms of treatment, such as medications.

Suffering From Trigger Point Pain? Call the Offices of Dr. Raul Martinez

Trigger points can be debilitatingly painful, but they are also treatable—meaning you don’t have to suffer. If you are struggling with trigger points pain and are wondering, “How do I find the best pain specialist near me,” then look no further than the offices of Dr. Raul Martinez in San Antonio. We have extensive experience with trigger point pain and trigger point injections, and we’ve helped hundreds of patients suffering from this condition. Our doctors are double board-certified in both pain medicine and pain management and are passionate about helping patients find solutions to their pain symptoms.

Dr. Martinez has performed thousands of successful procedures and has been helping patients manage their pain for more than 18 years. Even if you are living with chronic pain, your life does not have to be controlled by it. To learn about other possible chronic pain management options, contact us today. Don’t wait—find out how we can help you get your life back on track.

 

 

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Published: August 16, 2019

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