Dr. Trujillo uses trigger point injections to help patients deal with the pain caused by these contracted muscles. Trigger point injections are simple, quick procedures that Dr. Trujillo performs in our Show Low offices.
Conditions we may treat with trigger point injections
At Summit Healthcare Pain Clinic we use trigger point injections to treat pain in many muscle groups, especially those in the arms, legs, lower back, and neck. These can be used for a muscle that simply won’t relax and the knot it creates can actually be felt through the skin. But it can also be an effective pain relief option for other more involved conditions:
- Tension headaches
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Myofascial pain syndrome
How a trigger point injection is done
First, Dr. Trujillo works with the patient to identify the exact spot of the muscle knot. Once this is done, we apply some topical anesthetic to the site. Then Dr. Trujillo inserts a small needle down through the skin directly into the patient’s trigger point. He injects a local anesthetic mix. This will usually include local anesthetic, saline solution, or possible corticosteroid. The solution should provide instant relief by getting the trigger point to relax. If this first injection does not do this, Dr. Trujillo will deliver an additional injection or injections at slightly different angles or depths to fully hit the trigger point.
How long do these provide relief?
The duration of your results varies by the patient. In cases of overuse where the muscle has tightened and won’t relax, these injections often provide long-term relief. This is especially true if the person avoids the same overuse patterns of behavior in the future. For more chronic conditions, such as fibromyalgia, future additional injections will likely be needed to keep managing the patient’s pain.
Do you have a trigger point? Call the team at Summit Healthcare Pain Associates Clinic, (855) 768-4968, and let’s see how we can help.
