A guide to trigger point injections for muscle pain

Muscle pain can be a debilitating condition in our day-to-day lives. Fortunately, those who experience severe or chronic complaints might be interested to know there are injections available to help ease the pain.   

Leading pain consultant, Dr Nofil Mulla, has put together an informative article about trigger point injections for muscle pain and how they can benefit people considering the procedure.  

How can trigger point injections help people with muscle pain?

When pressure is put on a trigger point, it causes pain. A trigger point is a tender area of your body that is often a muscle. Normal muscle contracts and relaxes. The muscle may fail to relax at trigger points and a knot or tight band of muscle is formed.           

When might someone benefit from this treatment?

In order to decrease swelling and inflammation, injecting local anaesthetic and steroid anti-inflammatory can help. Pain and abnormal sensations may be reduced and mobility can improve, too.

What does the procedure involve?

In an attempt to reduce muscle pain, trigger point injections usually contain local anaesthetic and a small amount of steroid.

A fine needle that feels like an innocuous pinprick or scratch is perceived, like the kind felt during a jab. Antiseptic solution will be used to clean the injection site and some local anaesthetic will be injected into your skin. This will sting briefly. As the needle is put into the right place, you may feel a pushing sensation and then the medication will be injected. After this, the needle will be removed. Before being able to go home, you will be asked to wait for 10 to 15 minutes in the waiting room.  

What should you do after having injections?

Usually, the procedural pain is tolerable and only requires simple painkillers like paracetamol. Occasionally, cold compresses and ice packs may be required.

When will you notice an improvement?

The local anaesthetic benefits are usually experienced within a day or two but the steroid may take up to seven to 10 days to work. The injection site may feel uncomfortable and sore. This is nothing to worry about. On rare occasions, you may feel some dizziness or be light headed when sitting or standing. Continue to take your painkillers if you get any pain over the first few days.

How many injections can you have a year?

The procedure may be repeated a couple of times a year. However, continued use of steroids is not advocated although and the steroids that are injected are not systemically absorbed to the same extent as that administered orally or intravenously.

If you’re considering trigger point injections or require advice regarding muscle pain, Dr Nofil Mulla can provide top, expert advice. Visit his Top Doctors profile here.