Trigger Point Injections

Trigger Point Injections (TPI)

Trigger point injections are commonly performed to treat painful areas that result from tight knots of muscles that fail to relax.  Trigger Point injections may be used to detect if hard ware from a previous surgery is the cause of pain and should potentially be removed.

Procedure preparation

There is very little preparation for this procedure; in fact many patients are able to go-ahead with this procedure during the initial consultation with the physician or physician assistant here at SpineCenterAtlanta. As with all procedures, this procedure will be fully explained to ensure all concerns are addressed.

Please bring any previous imaging study results (MRI, CT, x-rays) such as films, reports, or CD-ROMs, if available, to your initial appointment, if you do not have current images, we may refer you to have studies done prior to the procedure.

Transportation

If you come by car, you will need a driver to take you home after your appointment.

Please notify our physician if you are nursing or if there is a chance you may be pregnant.

Please be prepared to discuss any medications that you are currently on with our physician, or bring you medication bottles with you to your appointment.

During the exam – what to expect

A small needle is inserted into the painful area, or trigger point, using x-ray-guidance (fluoroscopy), and a local anesthetic (numbing medication) with or without a steroid (anti-inflammatory) is injected.

Injection of medication numbs the trigger point, thus alleviating pain.

Sustained relief usually is achieved with a brief course of treatment. The injection may cause a twitch or pain that lasts a few seconds to a few minutes.

After the exam – what to expect

There is very little recovery time after this procedure, many patients return to work the same day. Numbness from the anesthetic may last about an hour and a bruise may form at the injection site. Pain can be relieved by alternately applying moist heat and ice for a day or two.

A full course of Physical therapy will help to facilitate fully recovery, strengthen the back and core muscles to help maximize recovery.

Possible side effects

Although side effects from this procedure are very rare, the physician or physician assistant will review any possibilities before the procedure.  Possible side effects include:

These side effects occur in less than 5% of patients and usually disappear within 1-3 days after the injection.  If you experience any side effects, please feel free to contact us at any time.