Trigger Point Injection Therapy

Why this resource is helpful:

"Muscles are made up of countless fibers, all trying to work together, orchestrated contracting and relaxing so that we can move about our daily lives. But there is a lot of ways that the normal motion can get derailed.

Trigger points are areas of muscle, sometimes microscopic or sometimes the size of a cherry tomato, where the muscle fibers have been irritated and respond by developing local inflammation and shortening of those fibers. They can also develop in ligaments (connective tissue between bones) and tendons (connective tissue between muscles and bones).

These cause pain, tenderness and even 'nervy' symptoms such as numbness, pins and needles or sharp, shooting pains (see diagram below). The rotten thing is that because our body is very inter-connected, sometimes the pain is localized (hurts right where you press), but often with trigger points the pain travels to another area of the body (called radiating pain).These trigger points often accompany and may be factors underlying chronic conditions such as headaches, migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain and low back pain (image below shows most common locations). Trigger is in their very name. They trigger us.

They often trigger the development and worsening of conditions related to muscle pain. They can develop in any muscles, big or small. It doesn't matter if you are physically active or a couch potato, we are all susceptible to developing them.What can be done?
Well, as a Naturopathic Doctor I am wanting to not only help get you out of pain, but investigate and try to determine why the trigger point developed. Is it due to posture? Abnormal muscle firing? Lack of restorative sleep or excess stress? A past injury or surgery? Another medical condition (such as autoimmune or neurological disease) or excess inflammation? To get long-lasting results, we need to understand and work to resolve all underlying reasons.

How do we get rid of trigger points?
There are many treatments offered, such as hands-on manual therapies offered by a Naturopathic Doctor, Chiropractic Doctor or massage therapist. These can often be very effective, though may need frequent or repeat in-office appointments.

Trigger point injections (TPI) are offered by some doctors, including specially trained Naturopathic Doctors. If needles are used without injecting any solution (liquid), that is called 'dry needling'. Often with TPI, numbing solutions are used for maximal benefit.

What do TPIs do?
We can pin-point the problem area, turn off any abnormal nerve signaling and muscle firing, promote a healing response in that exact part of the body and immediately reduce inflammation, all with a quick injection to the very center of that trigger point.

What to expect from a TPI appointment?
Similar to a vaccination or a B12 injection, TPIs are quick injections into the muscle layer of the body (beneath the skin and fat layer). Just like vaccinations, the area is cleaned and at most a simple band-aid covers the site (often not even that is needed). See this video for a quick overview."

Search Body Health Providers Find Similar Resources

Related resources: