Trigger point injections are a pain management treatment that involves injecting a local anesthetic, sometimes combined with a steroid medication, into a trigger point to relax muscles and relieve pain.
A trigger point is a tender area of muscle that develops when the tissue surrounding the muscle, called fascia (or myofascia) contracts and sticks to itself. A trigger point is often identified as a “knot,” a bump under the skin that can cause pain in the area where it has developed.
In some cases, a trigger point can even cause pain in another area of the body when it affects a nearby nerve; this is called referred pain.
Why trigger point injections are used
Trigger point injections are used to treat chronic pain in the:
Lower back
Neck
Arms
Legs
Chronic pain in the areas mentioned above is typically associated with:
Poor posture
Injury to the muscle
Poor mechanics that lead to stress of the muscle
Joint disorders
Trigger point injections are also used to treat pain associated with certain medical conditions, such as:
Fibromyalgia
Myofascial pain syndrome
