Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injection is an outpatient procedure for treating painful areas of muscles that contain “trigger points”. These trigger points are usually knots that form when the muscles cannot relax. In most cases, the knots can be felt under the skin, irritating nerves and causing pain. Trigger point injection is a common procedure and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Step One
Before the procedure begins, the patient will rest in a comfortable position. A physician will identify the trigger points by pressing and pinching the skin. After the location has been determined, the skin will be cleansed and a topical anesthetic may be used to numb the skin temporarily.
Step Two
The medication, which is an anesthetic mixture, is injected by carefully inserting a needle into the trigger point location. This will cause the trigger point to relax. In some cases, the trigger point may not fully relax with the first injection. If this happens, the physician will adjust the needle position and administer additional injections.
Step Three
Once the needle is removed from the arm, the procedure is complete. A bandage will be placed over the injection site and the patient will be asked to stretch and move the muscle.