Do you have an annoying pain that just won’t stop hurting, no matter how much you stretch or massage it? Maybe you slept wrong or pulled a muscle. You may have a knot that gets aggravated whenever you try to do something, from everyday tasks to hitting the gym. If this sounds like the pain and discomfort you’ve had recently, you might be dealing with a trigger point. These pesky spots can cause chronic pain and really affect your mobility and quality of life.
If physical therapy, massage and over-the-counter pain relievers haven’t offered much relief, then trigger point injections (TPI) may be the solution you’ve been searching for!
What Is a Trigger Point?
A trigger point is a tiny, extremely irritated spot located within the muscle fiber and is identified by tenderness, tautness and a twitch response when pressed.[1] It’s often called a “knot” and can be felt just under the skin when palpating the muscle.[2] It may be painful to the touch and limit movement in the affected muscles.[1] Trigger points cause chronic pain within the affected muscle or muscle group but may also send shooting pains to another area when pressed or moved.[1] Trauma, chronic musculoskeletal disorders, and overuse can cause trigger points. They form when the muscle fibers are stressed and commonly affect the neck, shoulders and pelvic girdle.[1]
What Are Trigger Point Injections?
Trigger point injections (TPIs) are a treatment designed to target and ease muscle pain associated with trigger points, most often affecting your neck, shoulder, back, arms and legs.[3] These injections usually contain a local anesthetic, sometimes combined with a corticosteroid or botulinum toxin, which helps reduce inflammation and pain.[3] Sometimes, a dry needle technique (no medications) may be used for patients with allergies or sensitivities to the medicines used.[2]
The idea is simple: inject the medication directly into the trigger point, and voilà—pain relief! It’s a minimally invasive procedure and can be done right in your doctor’s office, often bringing immediate relief.
Trigger Point Symptoms
How do you know if your chronic muscle aches and pain are a trigger point issue?
Here are some common symptoms, according to Physiopedia:
- Persistent Muscle Pain: A constant ache or discomfort in a specific muscle.
- Tender Spots: Areas in your muscles that are extremely sensitive to touch.
- Referred Pain: Pain radiating from the trigger point to other areas of the body.
- Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty moving the affected muscle normally.
- Painful Movement: Moving causes pain or further irritates the muscles or trigger point affected.
- Muscle Weakness or Imbalance: The muscle may feel weaker or more tired than usual.
- Accompanying Symptoms: Issues occurring along with trigger point pain include tension headaches, migraines, TMJ syndrome (temporomandibular joint) and tinnitus.
What Conditions Can Trigger Point Injections Help?
Trigger point injections (TPIs) may help relieve muscle pain associated with some musculoskeletal conditions, including the following:
- H4 Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A chronic condition causing pain and inflammation in the muscles and nearby tissue or fascia. Myofascial trigger points can cause pain in other parts of the body (referred pain), and injections can relax the affected muscle and stop the nerves from sending pain messages elsewhere.[4]
- H4 Fibromyalgia: This chronic condition shares a symptom profile with arthritis but affects soft tissue rather than joints.[ttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327384] It’s characterized by widespread muscle pain, stiffness and headaches stemming from trigger points throughout the body.[4]
- H4 Headaches: Trigger points in the neck and shoulders can lead to debilitating tension headaches and migraines.[4]
- H4 Chronic Pain Conditions: Including neck pain, back pain, and shoulder pain, where muscle knots are a contributing factor. TPIs inactivate the trigger point to relax muscles and provide pain relief.[1]
When to See a Pain Management Specialist
If you’ve been dealing with chronic muscle pain and uncomfortable knots that traditional treatments just aren’t helping, it’s time to seek the help of a pain management specialist. They will assess your symptoms to determine if trigger points are causing your pain discomfort. If you have been diagnosed with fascia pain, fibromyalgia, chronic muscle pain or persistent headaches, talk to your healthcare team to see if trigger point injections are right for you.
Don’t let chronic pain keep you from enjoying life. If you suspect your pain is due to trigger points, contact a pain management clinic that specializes in TPIs. With the proper treatment, you’ll be pain-free and able to get back to doing the things you love.
Resources:
- Alvarez DJ, Rockwell PG. Trigger Points: Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician [Internet]. 2002;65(4):653-661. Accessed August 02, 2024. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2002/0215/p653.html
- WebMD Editorial Contributors. Trigger Point Injection for Pain Management. WebMD [Internet]. Published February 2, 2005. Reviewed March 08, 2022. Accessed August 02, 2024. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/trigger-point-injection
- Trigger Point Injections. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed August 02, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17582-trigger-point-injection
- Eske J. Trigger point injections: Uses, side effects, and more. Medical News Today [Internet]. Published December 24, 2019. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327384
