Trigger Point Injection (TPI) can be an effective procedure for patients suffering from myofascial pain syndrome, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and headaches. TPI is used to treat what are commonly referred to as muscle knots (painful and tender areas of the muscles that form when the muscle does not relax). As well as being quite easy to feel on one’s body, muscle knots and their multiple trigger points can also affect the nerves around them which results in referred pain. As an example, the pain from a muscle knot in the trapezius area (between the neck and shoulder) could be felt in another area in the body as in the bottom of the shoulder blade. TPI is used to treat many different muscles within the body especially ones that are affected within the neck, arms, legs, lower and upper back. If there are resistant or recurrent tender/trigger points, the addition of magnesiusm via intraveneous administration can be a great benefit.
The Procedure
During a TPI procedure, the physician locates where the pain is within the muscle knot. Then a small injection is made with usually with a local anesthetic and sometimes inclusion of a homeopathic solution. When no medication is used, the Trigger Point Injections are referred to as Trigger Point Dry Needling. Both types of Trigger Point Injections cause the muscle to twitch and release, which relieves the pain as well as making the trigger point inactive. Depending on the patient, a few rounds of Trigger Point Injections is usually needed and is always done in the office.
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