Trigger point pain affects a wide range of individuals, spanning various demographics and lifestyles. Generally, a significant portion of the population will experience trigger points at some point in their lives, with studies indicating that up to 85% of patients presenting with pain complaints in primary care settings have trigger points. Trigger point injections (TPIs) are a medical procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. These trigger points can irritate the nerves around them and cause referred pain, which means the pain is felt in another part of the body.
TPI’s are a valuable tool in pain management, offering immediate and sustained pain relief, improved muscle function, and enhanced quality of life for patients with chronic and acute muscle pain. They are particularly beneficial for those with myofascial pain syndrome and other conditions involving muscle tension and trigger points. When used as part of a comprehensive pain management plan, TPIs significantly contribute to overall physical and psychological well-being.
What Are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are small, palpable nodules in muscle fibers that can be tender to the touch. When pressure is applied to a trigger point, it often elicits localized pain and referred pain patterns that are characteristic for each muscle. This referred pain can manifest as dull, aching, or sharp in nature and can affect areas distant from the actual trigger point.
What Causes Trigger Point Pain?
Trigger points develop due to factors that stress or damage muscle fibers. Common causes include muscle overuse from repetitive activities, such as typing or heavy lifting, and acute trauma, such as whiplash from a car accident. Poor posture maintained for prolonged periods can also lead to trigger points, as can emotional and psychological stress, which causes muscle tension. A sedentary lifestyle weakens muscles, making them more prone to trigger points. Certain medical conditions, like fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, often feature trigger point pain as a symptom.
Schedule an appointment today with one of our providers to see if trigger point injections are appropriate for your individual needs.
What Conditions Do Trigger Point Injections Treat?
Trigger Point Injections are used to treat several different groups of muscles and conditions that cause pain. Some of the most common include:
- Lower back and hip pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Arm and Hand pain
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Medial and lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow, respectively)
- Whiplash
- Osteoarthritis
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
