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Trigger Points & Trigger Point Injections

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A trigger point is a small area in a muscle that is very sensitive to touch or pressure.  It can be extremely painful.  Injury, overexertion, muscle tension, and muscle spasms are common causes of trigger points.  They most frequently occur in the neck, back, and shoulders.  Trigger point injections relax the muscle and relieve pain by placing medications in the trigger point. 

 

Read more about Trigger Points & Trigger Point Injections

  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment

Introduction

A trigger point is a small area in a muscle that is very sensitive to touch or pressure.  It can be extremely painful.  Injury, overexertion, muscle tension, and muscle spasms are common causes of trigger points.  They most frequently occur in the neck, back, and shoulders.  Trigger point injections relax the muscle and relieve pain by placing medications in the trigger point. 

 

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Anatomy

Your muscles contract and relax whenever you move.  If a muscle does not relax completely, a very tight band of muscle fibers can spasm and form  a trigger point.
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Causes

Traumatic injury, overexertion, muscle tension, muscle spasms, pinched nerves, and hormonal deficiencies are common causes of trigger points.
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Symptoms

A trigger point can cause extreme pain. It may feel tender, hard, or twitch when you touch it. In some cases, a trigger point can irritate surrounding nerves causing pain to spread to nearby areas (referred pain).  Your pain may limit your ability to move comfortably.
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Diagnosis

You should tell your doctor about your symptoms and any activities, injury, or conditions that you suspect may have contributed to your problem.  Your doctor will examine you by carefully feeling the muscle area.  The muscle may be gently pressed to identify  areas of referred pain. 
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Treatment

Therapeutic modalities, such as ultrasound and manipulative therapy, can be beneficial for some people.  However, trigger point injections are considered the most effective way to inactivate a trigger point for prompt symptom relief.  The injected medication usually consists of an anesthetic to relax the area and relieve pain.  A steroid medication is sometimes included in the injection.

Trigger point injections can be administered at a doctor’s office.  The treatment time is short, usually lasting several minutes. You may receive a nerve block or local anesthetic prior to your trigger point injection to prevent pain.  To deliver the trigger point injection, your doctor will insert a small needle into the trigger point and inject the medication. 

You  will be provided with instructions to reduce initial pain and swelling at the treatment site.  Trigger point injections are usually followed by physical therapy  aimed at pain relief and muscle stretching.  In some cases, trigger point injections may be repeated.
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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

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  • Home
  • Meet Dr. Mills
  • Request an Appointment
  • Patient Portal
  • Physician Referrals
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Our Services
  • Interventional Pain Management
  • Multispecialty Care
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation
  • Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections
  • Facet Block
  • Radio Frequency Ablation
  • Selective Nerve Root Block
  • Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections
  • Trigger Point Injections
  • Botox for Pain
  • Non-surgical Solutions
  • Ultrasound Guided Joint Injections
  • Our Specialties
  • Arm & Leg Pain
  • Arthritis and Bursitis
  • Back Pain
  • Chronic Pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Foot & Ankle Pain
  • Headache
  • Low Back Pain
  • Migraine
  • Myofascial Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy


Don F. Mills, MD
113 Waterworks Way, Suite 210
Irvine, CA 92618
Tel: (949) 502-5777
Fax: (949) 502-5778

Copyright © Don F. Mills, MD. All rights reserved.

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Don F. Mills, MD, offers highly specialized pain management care including: Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections, Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections, Trigger Point Injections, ​​​​​​​Ultrasound Guided Joint Injections, ​​​​​​​Botox for Pain, ​​​​​​​Facet Block, Selective Nerve Root Block, Multispecialty Care, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Interventional Pain Management, Non-surgical Solutions, Arm & Leg Pain, Arthritis & Bursitis, Back Pain, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Foot & Ankle Pain, Headache, Low Back Pain, Migraines, Myofascial Pain, Neck Pain, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in Irvine California.

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