Get to Know Trigger Point Injections, One of The Most Effective Ways to Ease Painful Muscle “knots”

Woman experiencing pain before trigger point injection.

It’s estimated that up to 85% of us will develop myofascial pain syndrome at some point in life. In addition to sore, tender, weak muscles and a limited range of motion, this exceedingly common condition is associated with trigger points. The aptly named trigger point injection at The Hemlock Pain Center in Macon, Dublin, Warner Robins, and Milledgeville, Georgia, provides relief when you can’t do other conservative treatments (such as physical therapy and stretching exercises) due to intense pain.

What exactly are trigger points?

Trigger points are often referred to as “knots” in your muscles. These knots are extremely sensitive to touch or pressure. Pain can also manifest in different ways depending on where these bumps or nodules are located; for instance, those with trigger points that affect the trapezius muscle over the neck and shoulders may experience persistent and worsening tension headaches.

Where do most of these trigger points arise?

In addition to the trapezius, trigger points commonly affect muscle groups such as the masseters in your jaw; the levator scapulae and gluteus media in the neck and hip, respectively; the quadratus lumborum in the lower back, the sternocleidomastoid in front of your neck; and the temporalis on the sides of your head. Trigger points in the piriformis muscle of the buttocks are associated with sciatic nerve pain, too. When these knots bear down on the nerve, it causes that characteristic pain and pins and needles of sciatica.

How do trigger points develop?

As noted, trigger points are symptomatic of myofascial pain affecting the muscles and tissue or fascia around the muscles. These tissues may become inflamed due to poor form or posture, injuries (including overuse injuries), and poorly controlled emotional distress.

How can trigger point injections help?

We can “inactivate” trigger points by applying local anesthetic (possibly with a steroid) injections into the affected area. In fact, TPIs are considered to be one of the most effective ways to treat active trigger points that are painful when pressure is applied to the site or along the same muscle.

Woman consulting doctor about pain prior to trigger point injection.
Woman showing signs of pain prior to trigger point injection.

What can I expect during my appointment?

If our board-certified anesthesiologists and pain management specialists, Drs. Stephen N. Tafor and Sandeep Datta determine that TPIs are appropriate for your pain, the process starts by cleansing the affected area. The point may be marked. Once one of our doctors has identified the trigger point (by touch), the tissue is stabilized. Then, a fine needle connected to a syringe is inserted into the trigger point. We gently and rhythmically “needle” the area by re-inserting and retracting it (without completely withdrawing it from the skin or muscle during treatment). This process continues until any muscle spasm or twitching stops, and the tissue feels adequately relaxed. The final step is to inject the site with a local anesthetic (and a corticosteroid, as needed).

When will I start to feel better?

Many of our patients at The Hemlock Pain Center experience relief between 24 and 72 hours following their TPI. The relief is sustained; you can feel better and get back to physical therapy and other activities for about a month. We can repeat injections as needed to keep the active trigger points at bay.

We welcome your questions about TPIs and how to partner with our teams. To reach a patient care coordinator today, contact one of our four area offices: Macon (478) 475-2385, Warner Robins (478) 997-6444, Dublin (478) 800-3745, or Milledgeville, GA (478) 280-4670.