Trigger point Injections

Trigger Point Injections – What Are They?

Trigger points are sensitive spots in your muscles that feel like small knots, bands, or nodules under the skin. These areas involve both the muscle and the surrounding connective tissue (called fascia).

The exact reason why trigger points form isn’t fully known. However, they may be caused by things like muscle strain, joint arthritis, emotional stress, fibromyalgia, infections, injuries, or muscle fatigue. The pain from these areas—called myofascial pain—can be intense and disruptive. Trigger point injections are used to relieve this type of muscle pain. In some cases, they can also reduce symptoms like tension headaches or help manage pain related to fibromyalgia.

Possible Side Effects of Trigger Point Injections

• Post-Injection Pain: Some people may feel sore after the injection, though this is uncommon. This soreness usually goes away in a few days. You can use ice packs, heating pads, or over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to manage it.
• Fat Loss Under the Skin: If steroids are used, there’s a small chance that fat under the skin may shrink, which can cause a dent in the skin. This doesn’t happen if only a numbing medicine (without steroids) is used.
• Other Rare Risks: Like any injection, there’s a small risk of infection or bleeding.

Conditions That May Benefit from Trigger Point Injections

Osteoarthritis

Fibromyalgia