Getting to the Point of Pain Can Trigger Point Injections Help My Patient?
Depending on the location and severity of the pain, a patient may need multiple injections during the procedure.
On average, trigger point injections are safe, but this treatment should not be the first answer for every patient. Candidates for trigger point injections experience chronic musculoskeletal pain and have not responded to 4 to 6 weeks of other treatment. Trigger point injections should not be the only treatment for pain relief. This procedure is most successful when paired with physical therapy, as a physical therapist is able to help stretch and release the muscles after the injection to improve healing. Patients are more likely to experience lasting relief when the cause of the trigger point is identified. Understanding what causes a trigger point is a crucial step of recovery. Muscular overload is often the culprit and can take these forms: ● Exertion overload: lifting something too heavy ● Repetitive stress overload: performing repetitive movements every day ● Biomechanical overload: caused by a myofascial pain disorder ● Muscular trauma overload: physical trauma Trigger point injections are known to be extremely effective in treating chronic pain, especially when paired with physical therapy. It’s important to implement behaviors that prevent the trigger points from forming again.
‘Boundaries for Leaders’ Redefines Leadership Common treatments for trigger points include massage, physical therapy, and exercise. These approaches can help work the muscle back into a healthier form, but not every patient experiences relief. This is where trigger point injections can help. An outpatient procedure, trigger point injections involve a physician carefully inserting a needle into the trigger point and injecting an anesthetic mixture. This mixture causes the trigger point to relax, releasing the tension in the muscle. The procedure takes only a few minutes and often results in much-needed pain relief. When a patient describes their pain as a “muscle knot,” they likely suffer from a hypersensitive area of overactive muscle or fascia, known as a myofascial trigger point. Often taking the form of a tender nodule, trigger points restrict movement, cause muscle weakness, and radiate pain to other parts of the body. Trigger points can lead to pain in the back, neck, or shoulders, and they may also be the cause of chronic tension headaches.
resource of the month
Since 1973, the International Association for the Study of Pain has aimed to be more than a passive informational resource. Instead, the IASP strives to change the world by actively encouraging pain experts to collaborate on research and innovation. IASP members are eligible for grants and fellowships to aid in pain research; have access to the official IASP journal, PAIN; and are offered avenues to network with their peers practicing around the world. IASP’s biennial World Congress on Pain is attended by some of the 7,000 members from 133 countries, and it offers lectures, workshops, and courses on multidisciplinary subjects associated with pain. The next World Congress is scheduled for September 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. Learn more about the congress, benefits of membership, and the work behind IASP’s cause at iasp-pain.org. The International Association for the Study of Pain Unites the World
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