Do Trigger Point Injections Help?

Trigger point injections have been proven to work extremely well for myofascial pain syndrome and temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) syndrome. Trigger point injections are effective in minimizing the frequency and duration of tension headaches. In some individual cases, the injections may need to be repeated every few weeks simultaneously with additional treatments. This depends on the severity and condition of the patient upon treatment.

What Exactly Is A Trigger Point Injection?

Trigger point injection treatments are very simple, and almost always outpatient procedures. An extremely small needle is placed in the skin over the top of the muscle to inject numbing medicine. The injection causes the trigger point to deactivate and ultimately relieves the pain the patient is feeling. The doctor may need to move the needle in and out a few times to achieve optimal results. A small bandage is used to cover the area once the procedure is completed. There is an extremely low-risk factor to the procedure and a very rare chance that the treatment will not cause relief. It’s important to note that the patient could bleed, and infections are plausible.

The Most Common Causes of Trigger Points

• Fibromyalgia
• Myofascial pain – chronic muscle tissue pain
• Tension Headaches
• TMJ Syndrome
• Stress
• Overuse of muscles
• Spinal issues
• Whiplash

Symptoms

• Sensitivity or pain to touch
• Back or neck pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain