Trigger Point Injections

Trigger points are painful tissues in and around muscles. Pressure to the painful tissues can cause an aching or sharp pain sensation. Trigger point injections are the administration of a local anesthetic and steroid medication in the muscles where pain is occurring. The injection may relieve spasms of the muscle and may last from weeks to months.

Trigger point injections are performed as an outpatient procedure. The skin at the injection site is sterilely prepped and numbing medication may be used to anesthetize the skin and tissue deep to the skin to make the procedure more comfortable. Patients are monitored for a short time before being discharged home. On the day of the injection, patients are instructed to avoid strenuous activities. Some patients may experience a slight increase in pain for several days as the numbing medication wears off and while waiting for the steroid to work. The day following the injection, patients may return to their normal activities.

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