Trigger points are painful, irritable spots in a muscle, often in the neck or back. People may call them “muscle knots,” though the muscle is not actually knotted. When conservative care has not helped, trigger point injections can relax the muscle and relieve pain.
Many lifestyle factors can lead to trigger points in the neck, middle back, or lower back, including:
Muscle injury
An injury to the muscle.
Overuse and repeated stress
Repetitive strain on the same muscles.
Poor posture
Sustained awkward positions.
Disuse or a sedentary lifestyle
Muscles weaken and tighten.
Vitamin deficiencies
Can contribute to muscle irritability.
Sleep disturbances and joint disorders
Both are associated with trigger points.
Trigger point injections are a quick, in-office procedure:
Locate the trigger point
The physician feels for the tender spot that reproduces your pain.
Clean and prepare
The skin is cleaned.
Inject
A small needle delivers anesthetic, sometimes with a steroid, into the trigger point.
Stretch and move
Gentle stretching and therapy afterward help keep the muscle relaxed.
A trigger point is a tight, irritable spot in a muscle, often felt as a "knot" under the skin. The muscle is not actually knotted, but the area is tender and can refer pain elsewhere.
Common causes include muscle injury, overuse, repeated stress, poor posture, disuse, a sedentary lifestyle, vitamin deficiencies, sleep disturbances, and joint disorders.
A trigger point injection typically contains a local anesthetic, sometimes with a corticosteroid, injected directly into the tender spot to relax the muscle and relieve pain.
Trigger points cause referred pain, meaning pressing on them can produce pain in another area, while tender points cause pain only where pressure is applied.
If conservative treatment such as medication, physical therapy, stretching, and heat or cold therapy has not helped after several weeks, trigger point injections may be considered.
Untreated trigger points can place undue stress on surrounding muscles, eventually leading to additional trigger points.
Many patients feel relief soon after the injection as the muscle relaxes. Stretching and physical therapy help keep the trigger point from returning.
An examination can identify trigger points and rule out other causes of pain. Call (321) 499-4646 to schedule.
Someone living with trigger points may experience:
Trigger point injections are quick, with little downtime.
Same day
Mild soreness
Some soreness at the injection site is common.
Days
Muscle relaxes
Many patients notice less pain and more motion.
Ongoing
Keep it away
Stretching, posture, and physical therapy help prevent recurrence.
Hear our patients share their experience with us, All in their own words.
Expert, ultra-minimally invasive spine and orthopedic care, close to home.
Ultra-minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques
We specialize in procedures performed through incisions smaller than a dime, sparing muscle and supporting a faster recovery.
Same-day, outpatient procedures
Most patients walk in and return home within hours, rather than facing an overnight hospital stay.
Board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons
Our team includes early leaders in endoscopic spine surgery.
A complimentary MRI review
Understand your diagnosis and options from a board-certified specialist before committing to any treatment.
Trusted by our community
More than 1,100 patient reviews at a 4.6-star average, and over 50,000 patients treated.
Pain management close to home
Our physicians treat muscle and spine pain with a full range of non-surgical options.
Comprehensive spine and orthopedic care
From injections to advanced procedures, your full continuum of care is handled in one place.
Convenient locations across the Space Coast and Orlando
Care close to home in Melbourne, Orlando (Lake Nona), and Titusville.
