Trigger Point Therapy
Contents:
Trigger Point Injection Therapy is the injection of a local anesthetic, usually combined with a steroid drug, into a trigger point is a pain management strategy that reduces muscle tension and discomfort. Trigger points are created when the muscle and connective tissue, known as fascia (or myofascia), adhere to one another.
A trigger point is a painful, hard knot under the skin, which is often referred to as a “knot.” Trigger points can cause pain in one location or another, known as referred pain, by irritating a nearby nerve.
Those with pain in the following areas may benefit from trigger point therapy:
- Lower back
- Shoulders
- Neck
- Arms
- Wrists
- Legs
Trigger point injections are also used to benefit specific medical conditions that manifest with pain, such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Long COVID (Post COVID Syndrome)
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Tension headaches
What Is a Session Like?
The injections only take a few minutes to perform. Depending on the location of pain, the medical provider will ask the patient to either sit or lie down in a position that is best for the location. Next, the area of pain to located, often with the use of ultrasound guidance, then the trigger point is treated by a small injection.
Risks Associated with Trigger Point Injections
There are very few risks associated with these injections aside from bleeding or infection at the injection site. After a trigger point injection, common side effects include numbness or soreness at the injection site. These side effects typically resolve in a few days.
Benefits of Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections can provide pain relief to people who have been experiencing trigger point-related pain and have not been able to get rid of it using less invasive treatments, like pain medication or other therapies. The use of trigger point injections often aids other treatments such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a method used to reduce trigger points that does not include injecting any medication or saline fluid. It is considered a form of acupuncture by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and, within New York State, can only be performed by a licensed acupuncturist or medical practitioner (medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner). Our medical team is expertly trained in this technique.
We offer Dry Needling when appropriate for your condition. You can read more about Dry Needling / Trigger Point Acupuncture here.