What are trigger points?
Trigger points are tight bands or painful knots that develop in our muscles when a muscle fails to relax after a contraction. They can be caused by overuse injuries, poor posture, or underlying joint or tendon issues. They can also irritate the adjacent nerves and cause pain to radiate to surrounding areas.
Would I benefit from trigger point injections?
Many active trigger points will respond to massage therapy and physical therapy, especially when treated in the early stages. If there is more chronic and persistent muscle pain, then you may benefit from trigger point injections. Trigger point injections involve inserting a fine needle into the muscle to help break the pain cycle and reduce inflammation at the site. A local anesthetic like lidocaine is injected as an added benefit while aiding in releasing the myofascial adhesions.
Trigger point injections can be useful for managing conditions such as:
- Neck and lower back pain
- Tension headaches
- TMJ syndrome
- Shoulder pain
- Knee and hip pain
