Trigger Point Injections (TPI) In Alexandria, VA

There are different causes of pain in the limbs. Pain felt from the muscles can be either local or referred. If not well managed, it can give rise to motor dysfunction and autonomic disorders. If you feel pain in an area of tenderness upon compression, take time to see a doctor for a clinical checkup. Pain felt in a taut band of muscle hurts and indicates the presence of a trigger point.

What Is a Trigger Point?

This is a hyperirritable spot of the skeletal muscle fascia, which responds to compression with a distant pain pattern from the point of compression. They are associated with myofascial pain syndrome that results in physiological disturbance. Pain is manifested as tight knots of muscles that fail to relax, requiring trigger point injections.

Symptoms and clinical indications of trigger points include:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Change in range of motion
  • Painful movement
  • Migraines, tension headaches
  • Postural abnormalities

What Is a Trigger Point Injection?

Trigger point injections (TPI) are a treatment procedure performed to relieve pain from tight myofascial trigger points. Trigger points irritate the nerves, causing referred pain, also called reflective pain, which is pain that’s perceived in a different or distant site from the painful stimulus’s location. Careful management of trigger points helps you manage severe conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, and other chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

A trigger point injection is a simple procedure that is performed in the doctor’s office. The procedure is highlighted below.

Preparaion and Procedure

The injection takes a few minutes, providing long-lasting relief. The procedure doesn’t require any prior preparation, unlike a theatre appointment. Your doctor will instruct you to lie down comfortably and locate the trigger points by pressing on the muscle gently. Using a small needle containing anesthetic, steroid, or saline, the medication will be released into the tender area. Depending on the severity of the condition, several trigger point injections can help alleviate the pain.

How Does TPI Treatment Work?

TPI — unlike dry needling — injects saline, steroids, or local anesthesia to relieve discomfort in the tender skeletal muscle knots. The action mechanism is thought to disrupt the trigger points through a mechanical effect, resulting in relaxation and muscle fiber lengthening. The needling impact is believed to induce the release of intracellular potassium that depolarizes and disrupts nerve conduction. Depending on the injected fluid, it may reduce the irritability of nerve sensitizing substances, improving nerve sensitivity.

The effects are reduced muscle tension and muscle spasm. The result also reduces the occurrence of headaches due to myofascial pain.

What Conditions Can TPI Treatment Be Used For?

Trigger point injections are used to treat a wide range of muscle-related complications. The most common are associated with the arms, legs, neck, and lower back.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia pain causes an individual to ache all over due to tender points that hurt despite general over-the-counter medicine. TPI treatment relieves pain by disrupting the trigger points mechanically and lengthening muscle fibers.

Tension Headaches

Episodic headaches causing dull pain around your forehead are associated with trigger points and may become chronic if not properly managed. We recommend that you visit a doctor to determine whether trigger points are responsible for this nature of pain.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

This is a chronic muscle condition resulting in inflammation of soft tissues. Treatment using TPI proves sufficient to reduce nerve damage.

Other interventions used to treat trigger points include and are not limited to dry needling, acupuncture, laser therapy, and prolotherapy.

Contact Virginia Family Integrated Medicine today to set up an appointment!