Trigger Point Injections

Trigger Point Injections

What are Trigger Point Injections?

Trigger point injections (TPI) are a non-surgical effective way to treat myofascial trigger points. Myofascial trigger points (MTP) are discrete tight bundles/knots found in muscle, these bundles are hyperirritable and tender. This muscle tightness pinches the vessels and nerves resulting in pain, this pain may radiate to other local areas. Microtrauma in the muscle fibers creates myofascial trigger points. MTPs develop from acute trauma, poor mechanics and overuse. Myofascial trigger points can manifest as pain, decreased range of motion, headaches, TMJ, low back pain, sciatica, shoulder, leg and neck pain. It has also been shown in studies to be effective for treating fibromyalgia pain.

Myofascial Trigger Points causes chronic pain, this can significantly lower your quality of life. Trigger point injections are a quick, less painful treatment that gets you pain free fast.

What to expect during TPI?

We will first lie you down. Once comfortable myofascial trigger points will be located by your physician. A small needle will then be inserted into the myofascial trigger point a local anesthetic (pain killer) is injected into them. Immediately the TPI cause the muscle to relax resulting in instant pain relief.

What Patients say About TPIs:

Patients report very mild pain with injections. They note instant pain relief from the TPIs.

Expected Treatment:

The number of treatments needed vary upon the severity and cause of pain. Most patients are 80% better after 3 sessions. For greater improvement some patients will need 4-8 sessions.

Will TPI help me?

Trigger point injections will help you if you have acute or chronic pain with muscle tightness. It also works wonders for patients that have chronic headaches and fibromyalgia. If you have tried getting massages or adjusted but the pain relief is short lived TPIs can help you.
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What is Perineural Injection Therapy?

Perineural Injection Therapy (PIT) is a non-surgical treatment for chronic nerve pain. It’s used to treat neuropathic pain. Symptoms of neuropathic pain are shooting pain, burning, tingling and stabbing pain. Neuropathic pain occurs when the nerves become damaged and inflamed. There are many causes of neuropathic pains such as overuse, trauma, metabolic disorders (diabetes) and nutrient deficiencies.

At Lake Stevens Natural Medicine, we use dextrose to treat those inflamed nerves. In studies, dextrose has been shown to inhibit the TrpV1 nerve receptors (this causes nerve inflammation). TrpV1 is activated by stretching, constricting or the cutting of nerves. TrpV1 causes the nerve to release chemicals that cause inflammation, swelling, burning, chronic nerve pain. Inhibiting the TrpV1 receptor prevents the inflammatory cascade from occurring and it restores normal nerve function.

What to expect during Perineural Injection Therapy?

After laying down and once you are comfortable, a small needle is used to deliver multiple injections of dextrose solution just under the skin around the painful areas. Dextrose is used to target painful sensitive nerves in order to stop nerve inflammation, promote healing of injured nerves, restore tissue function and eliminate pain. Patients report that PIT injections are very tolerable.

How Many Treatments are Needed?

The number of treatments needed vary upon complexity and severity of pain and damage. Most patients need 4-8 sessions for long lasting pain relief.

Who is a Good Candidate?

Anyone with nerve pain that is not due to a structural or autoimmune cause.

What are the Side Effects?

PIT uses dextrose, dextrose is needed for normal human function, side effects are rare and minimal. Minimal side effects include bleeding, bruising and very rarely infection.

Resources:
NCBI 24883322