Are you struggling with chronic muscle pain? Do you feel tight knots in your neck, shoulders, or back? These are called trigger points or Myofascial Trigger Points. One might benefit from Trigger Point Injections. These injections are a safe and effective way to provide relief from muscle pain and improve the quality of life.
What Are Trigger Point Injections?
Trigger Point Injections (TPIs) are medical treatments that are used to relieve painful muscle knots. These knots are also called trigger points. These are tight bands of muscle fibres that cause discomfort, stiffness, and limited movement. A healthcare professional injects a small amount of anaesthetic or saline directly into the knot to release tension and ease pain.
Key Benefits:
- Reduces muscle pain quickly
- Improves mobility and flexibility
- Decreases muscle stiffness
- Can prevent chronic pain
Why Trigger Points Happen?
Trigger points occur due to the following reasons:
- Muscle overuse from exercise or repetitive movements
- Injury or trauma to the muscle
- Poor posture, especially from sitting at a desk all day
- Chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome
How Do Trigger Point Injections Work?
When a muscle gets tight, it can pinch nerves or reduce blood flow, which can cause pain. Trigger Point Injections work by:
- Relaxing the muscle: It helps the muscle fibres to release tension.
- Increasing blood flow: This injection brings oxygen and nutrients to the affected area, which helps in healing.
- Blocking pain signals: The anaesthetic in the injection reduces the sensation of pain.
Who Needs TPI?
TPIs are a great option for people who have chronic pain that can’t be treated with simple things like resting, stretching, or over-the-counter medicine
Doctors use TPIs to treat conditions like:
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome: It is a chronic pain that is caused by trigger points, especially in the neck, shoulder, and upper back.
- Tension Headaches: It is often caused due to knots in the neck and shoulder muscles that feel like a tight band around the head.
- Lower Back Pain: It is caused due to trigger points in the back or hip muscles, like the Gluteus Medius or Quadratus Lumborum.
- Chronic Pain: When tight muscles limit movement and make physical therapy difficult.
It’s Procedure: What to Expect
The procedure is quick and simple and usually takes 10-20 minutes. Here’s what happens:
- Finding the Knot: Your doctor will press on the muscle to find the exact, most painful trigger point. The trigger points may be visualised with the help of an ultrasound examination.
- Cleaning the Skin: The area is cleaned with an antiseptic (like an alcohol wipe).
- The Injection: The doctor quickly inserts a thin needle into the knot with the help of an ultrasound to accurately deposit the medication. You might feel a quick twitch or spasm in the muscle; that’s a good sign! It means the knot is being deactivated.
- Injecting the Medicine: The numbing medicine is delivered (if used).
- Finishing Up: Once the knot is relaxed, the needle is taken out. You may get a small bandage.
Read More: Epidural Injection for Back Pain
Risks and Side Effects of Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are typically safe and have a low risk of complications. The most common side effect is temporary discomfort or numbness around the injection site. Your healthcare provider may suggest treating this with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Additionally, applying ice packs to the injection sites can help reduce the risk of bruising. However, it can cause some rare side effects:
- Temporary soreness or bruising
- Minor bleeding at the injection site
- Rare allergic reactions
Recovery and Aftercare
After Trigger Point Injections, follow these tips for the best results:
- Rest the muscle for 24-48 hours
- Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity
- Apply ice if there’s soreness
- Stretch gently to maintain flexibility
Why Choose Trigger Point Injections?
Unlike oral pain medications, Trigger Point Injections target the problem directly. They are used for providing:
- Faster relief than pills or therapy alone
- Reduced need for painkillers
- Long-term improvement in muscle function
Trigger Point Treatment at Pain Medics Clinic
At Pain Medic Clinic in the region, we specialise in Trigger Point Injections (TPIs) to provide fast and effective relief from chronic muscle pain. Our expert team is dedicated to identifying and treating painful muscle knots safely, helping you regain mobility, reduce stiffness, and improve your quality of life.
Trusted by countless patients in the region, we pride ourselves on delivering compassionate care and targeted solutions that truly work. If you’re tired of living with persistent muscle pain, our clinic is here to help you feel better, move more easily, and live pain-free.
