Pain Relief
Trigger Point Injections – The relief provided to patients through direct Pain Management Services is very important. A very common treatment to alleviate peripheral nerve pain is a Trigger Point Injection. This is a simple treatment delivered in the our office and can provide both short and long-term pain relief.
What is Trigger Point
The trigger point is a focal area where inflammation and spasm occur in skeletal muscles. The injection typically addresses muscle spasms in the upper back and shoulder and is used to alleviate the discomfort of a variety of conditions. These trigger points are found, though less often, in the low back and even the limbs.
The trigger point is a tender spot, often defined by a knot in the muscle. Pressure on this nodule causes pain to radiate around the area. These points are associated with fibromyalgia, neck and low back pain, as well as headaches and temporomandibular pain.
The Trigger Point Injection is administered directly into the trigger point for the purpose of pain management. At times, the injection is nothing more than a needle, with no medication being introduced (“dry needling”). The typical medicines injected include anesthetics or corticosteroids, or combinations of both. Whatever the specifics of the injection, it renders the trigger point inactive and pain dissipates. Both specialists and family doctors can give these injections.
Simplicity
As mentioned, it is a simple procedure. The physician locates the trigger point through manual palpation. The site is cleaned, the needle is inserted, medication is delivered, and the injection site is finally protected by an ordinary Band-aid. Sometimes, the skin will be desensitized with a numbing spray prior to giving the injection. Pain following the procedure is minimal or non-existent and can be addressed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
The best outcome is that the injection permanently eliminates the pain. If repeated treatments are needed, however, they can be given monthly if only anesthetics are injected. Frequency should be reduced significantly with the use of steroids, as they carry with them the risk of tissue damage.
Trigger Point Injections, a very straightforward treatment, offer much relief and are favored by doctors as a simple way to deal with certain kinds of pain.