Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections deliver medication directly into painful muscle knots — providing relief for chronic muscle pain, myofascial pain syndrome, and tension-related headaches that haven’t responded to physical therapy or other conservative treatments.
Who This May Help
Trigger point injections may be an option if you have persistent muscle pain with identifiable tender knots — called trigger points — that cause local pain or refer pain to other areas of the body. Common locations include the neck, upper back, shoulders, lower back, and hips. If you have been told you have myofascial pain syndrome, or if you have chronic muscle tightness and pain that has not fully resolved with physical therapy, massage, or medications, trigger point injections may be worth evaluating.
A consultation with our clinical team will determine whether you are a candidate.
How Trigger Point Injections Work
A trigger point is a tight, hyperirritable band within a muscle that has become locked in a contracted state and is generating pain — both at the site itself and sometimes in a referred pattern to nearby areas. Trigger point injections place medication directly into the trigger point, releasing the muscle tension and interrupting the pain cycle. Multiple trigger points can typically be treated in a single visit depending on the number and location of active sites identified during your evaluation.
The procedure is brief and performed in the office. Patients go home the same day and most resume normal activity within a day or two.
What to Expect After the Procedure
It is common to experience some soreness at the injection sites for one to two days after the procedure — similar to how muscles feel after a deep massage. This typically resolves quickly and is often followed by a noticeable reduction in muscle tightness and pain. Applying heat to the treated areas and staying active with gentle movement can help the muscles relax and respond well to the injection.
The duration of relief varies by patient and condition. Some patients experience significant improvement lasting several weeks to months from a single treatment session. Others benefit from a series of injections over time. Combining trigger point injections with physical therapy and stretching often produces the most lasting results.