Trigger point infiltration
Trigger point infiltration is an excellent non surgical treatment option for patients with persistent muscular pain in different parts of body.
Trigger points, more commonly known as muscle knots, are areas of localized tension or tightness within a muscle. These areas can cause pain that travels to surrounding areas of the body and can be felt as bands of thickened muscle tissue or nodules.
How Trigger point infiltration is performed ?
It is done with the patient sitting or lying on operation table. The patients are monitored with blood pressure, and an oxygen-monitoring device. The skin surrounding affected area is cleaned with antiseptic solution and then the injection is carried out by Pain Physician. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia . Some times done with X ray or Ultrasound guidance, which helps proper needle placement in muscle tissue and avoid injury to surrounding important structures. Injection involves local anaesthetic and steroid in to the tender points in the muscles. The local anaesthetic calms the pain down and the steroid works as an anti inflammatory medicine. This process typically takes between 20 to 30 minutes.
What are the benefits of Trigger point infiltration ?
The procedure is safe and generally well tolerated by patients . The procedure takes a few minutes to complete. Trigger point injections reduces pain immediately and make the patient feel more comfortable. There is good improvement in mobility. Patients can return to work or other activities on same day. The patient can perform good physiotherapy. After physiotherapy for few weeks the movements in affected parts are back to normal.
How long the relief last after Trigger point infiltration ?
In most cases it lasts forever. Very few patients require a repeat after some period.
What are the side effects of Trigger point infiltration?
Generally this procedure is safe, however with any procedure there are risks, side effects or possible complications. The procedure may not help in some cases The risks, which are extremely rare include: allergic reaction to the medications, nerve damage, injury to other structures, bruising at the injection site, infection at the site, injection of medication into a blood vessel.
Which Patients are benefited by Trigger point infiltration ?
It is done as a part of the treatment and pain control of patients suffering from headache, neck pain, low back pain, thigh pain and pain conditions of muscular origin in different part of body.
