Trigger Point Injections

What Happens During a Trigger Point Injection?

In the TPI procedure, a health care professional inserts a small needle into the patient’s trigger point. Dr. Barrack uses a local anesthetic that contains both long (marcaine or bupivicaine) and short acting (lidocaine or xylocaine) anesthetic medications. With the injection, the trigger point is made inactive and the pain is alleviated. Usually, a brief course of treatment will result in sustained relief. Injections are given in a doctor’s office and usually take just a few minutes. Several sites may be injected in one visit. If a patient has an allergy to a certain drug, a dry-needle technique (involving no medications) can be used.

If there is a question of localizing the trigger point a electrodiagnostic machine can be used to localize the site of muscle spasm. Dr. Barrack will discuss this with you if this is necessary for your trigger injections.

When Is Trigger Point Injection Used?

TPI is used to treat many muscle groups, especially those in the arms, legs, lower back, and neck. In addition, TPI can be used to treat fibromyalgia and tension headaches. The technique is also used to alleviate myofascial pain syndrome (chronic pain involving tissue that surrounds muscle) that does not respond to other treatments. However, the effectiveness of TPI for treating myofascial pain is still under study.