How Do Trigger Point Injections Work, and What Are Their Benefits?

Pain can be debilitating. Once a problem develops in one part of the body, its symptoms, such as pain, often spread to other parts. That is why the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists recommends trigger point injections as a direct treatment for discomfort. Knowing how trigger point injections work and what their benefits are can help you prepare for your appointment. Here are the details.

How Trigger Point Injections Work

Trigger point therapy targets tense areas in your muscles. These are injections that often contain saline, lidocaine, and a corticosteroid. Lidocaine is a common local anesthetic. It relaxes the irritated nerves of a specific area right away. This anesthetic also targets swelling. 

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of trigger point injections help your muscles relax. This enables the surrounding blood vessels, tissue, and nerves to function correctly again. Trigger point injections are effective in providing relief. The body takes advantage of muscle relaxation to repair and regenerate the affected tissue. 

Targeted Areas of Trigger Point Injections

Your doctor can use trigger point injections on myofascial issues in almost any part of your body, such as your legs, back, and neck. Research shows that these injections can help people with fibromyalgia or frequent headaches. Some people use these injections with other treatments like massage therapy.

The Purpose of Trigger Point Injections

These injections can treat pain in the white tissue around each muscle. There are one or more trigger points that cause pain. These points often feel like muscle knots, bumps, or nodules. Trigger point injections can target the following:
 

• Muscle from the back of the neck to the shoulders

• Muscle in the hip

• Muscle in the jaw

• Muscle on the sides of the neck

• Muscle on the sides of the head

• Muscle in the front of the neck

• Muscle deep in the lower back

The Benefits

Getting trigger point injections can relieve your discomfort. It can help other treatments work better. You can talk to your doctor if these injections are right for you. Here are the benefits of trigger point injections that you can enjoy:
 

• They can treat many medical conditions. Aside from back and neck pain, trigger point injections can also treat ailments like sciatica, fibromyalgia, or carpal tunnel syndrome. 
   

• They can relieve pain. The relief can travel throughout the body. This will allow you to function without discomfort.
   

• They work well with other pain control treatments. Trigger points often develop from inactivity or stress. The injections can relieve pain while the other treatments treat the underlying condition. 
   

• They do not have serious side effects. Studies show that the side effects from trigger point injections are numbness and soreness, but they disappear right away after the treatment. 
   

• There is no recovery period or downtime. Since these injections do not need surgery, you will not go through a recovery period. The injections work immediately. You can go back to your normal activities after your injections. 

Understanding the workings and benefits of trigger point injections can help you prepare for your coming appointment. At ReAlignMed, we help our patients regain their health and wellness through our safe and effective treatments. Feel free to drop by our facility in Chicago, Illinois, for an in-person consultation. Please call 773-917-0900 to schedule an appointment or inquire about our trigger point injection packages.