Trigger point injection (TPI) may be an option for treating pain in some patients. TPI is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. Many times, such knots can be felt under the skin. Trigger points may irritate the nerves around them and cause referred pain, or pain that is felt in another part of the body.
What happens during a trigger point injection?
In the TPI procedure, a health care professional inserts a small needle into the patient’s trigger point. The injection contains a local anesthetic or saline, and may include a corticosteroid. With the injection, the trigger point is made inactive and the pain is alleviated. Often, a brief course of treatment will result in sustained relief. Injections are given in a doctor’s office and usually take just a few minutes. Several sites may be injected in one visit. If a patient has an allergy to a certain drug, a dry-needle technique (involving no medications) can be used.
When is trigger point injection used?
TPI is used to treat many muscle groups, especially those in the neck, arms, mid and lower back, and legs. In addition, TPI can be used to treat fibromyalgia and tension headaches. The technique is also used to alleviate myofascial pain syndrome (chronic pain involving tissue that surrounds muscle) that does not respond to other treatments.
- Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- Swelling, redness, or bleeding at the injection site that lasts for over 24 hours
- Chills
- Any new or unexplained symptoms
If the occipital nerve block doesn’t provide any pain relief for you, your doctor will work with you to find other treatment options.
Potential side effects
Side effects from an occipital nerve block are usually temporary and go away within 6 to 8 hours. Side effects can include:
- Pain at the site of the injection
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Lightheadedness
If you have diabetes, the steroids used in the occipital nerve block can cause your blood sugar levels to be elevated for up to 2 weeks after the injection. Check your blood sugar more often than usual for the first few days after your injection. If it’s elevated, contact the doctor who treats your diabetes about what you should do.
How long will an occipital nerve block last?
There’s no way to predict how long an occipital nerve block will last. It varies for each person. Some people experience pain relief that lasts for months. For others, it’s not effective or lasts only a few days. If you experience relief but it’s short-lived, you may want to try again.
There’s a limit to how many steroid injections you should have. Your doctor will talk to you about how often you can have them.
