How Do Trigger Point Injections Work?

You already know that tension can lead to discomfort in your body, particularly when it persists. But relaxing tense muscles isn’t always easy. In some cases, knots can form in your muscle fiber that you can’t get rid of on your own.

These knots are called trigger points. To bring you relief from the discomfort they cause, Dr. Halina Snowball offers trigger point injections at Integrated Pain Solutions in Stamford, Connecticut.

Beyond muscular tension, trigger point injections can treat a broad range of health conditions. Are they a treatment option for your chronic pain? Find out here.

How trigger point injections work

Trigger point injections target problem areas in your muscle. After a muscular strain or as a result of a specific condition, your muscles sometimes create specific areas of tension. 

When knots form in your muscle fiber, they can cause pain at the site of the knot. These knots can also cause what’s called referred pain, which you feel elsewhere as a result of the tension. 

With a trigger point injection, we have a way to target that knot, injecting it with a specialized solution to force it to relax. 

What trigger point injections can treat

We use trigger point injections to help alleviate a broad range of pain. We can use this treatment option for patients with:

• Muscle strains
• Tension headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Myofascial pain syndrome

If you live with chronic pain, come visit us. We can explore all of your treatment options to help you find the best pain relief treatment program possible. 

What to expect with trigger point injections 

We offer trigger point injections because they’re effective, safe, and convenient. 

To start your treatment, we first need to identify the trigger point itself. We’ll feel your muscle to locate the trigger point. We may have you perform specific stretches to allow us to identify the trigger point with more precision.

Once we have located your trigger point, we inject it with a specialized solution. This solution contains an anesthetic to locally numb the area, plus the right treatment to relax the muscle at your trigger point (like a steroid). Most patients report that the injection itself feels like a small pinch. The effects often start immediately, but full pain relief can take up to a week. 

Complications from trigger point injections are extremely rare. The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site for a couple of days. 

If you’re dealing with persistent pain, a trigger point injection could be a good treatment option for you. To find the best path out of your pain, call our office at 203-293-0549 or request an appointment online today.