TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS
Targeted treatment for painful, tight muscles.
Localized areas of tight, sensitive muscle—often called trigger points—can contribute to pain, tightness, or restricted movement.
VECTOR may consider trigger point injections for selected patients with myofascial pain after evaluating the symptoms, affected muscles, health history, and other possible sources of pain.
What are trigger points?
Sometimes the knot in your shoulder is the problem, and sometimes it isn’t.
Trigger points may develop with overuse, repetitive activity, injury, altered movement, prolonged positioning, or other musculoskeletal factors. They are most often described in the neck, upper back, shoulder girdle including the trapezius, and low back. Not every area of muscle pain is a trigger point; pain may also arise from joints, nerves, tendons, ligaments, discs, or other structures. Trigger points in the neck or shoulder girdle can contribute to tension-type headache, although headache has many other causes.
What is a trigger point injection?
A targeted treatment for selected myofascial pain.
A small needle is inserted into an identified trigger point and lidocaine, a local anesthetic, is administered when clinically appropriate. This differs from joint injections and regenerative treatments such as PRP.
When treatment may be considered
The right treatment depends on the source of pain.
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Localized muscular pain or tenderness
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Persistent areas of muscle tightness
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Pain associated with particular movements or activities
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Reduced comfortable range of motion
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Symptoms not adequately improved with appropriate conservative care
Evaluation may include history, medication review, physical examination, movement assessment, and review of prior imaging or records. Another diagnostic or treatment approach may be recommended instead.
Care beyond the injection
The injection is not always the whole plan.
Depending on the cause, care may also include activity modification, stretching, mobility work, therapeutic exercise, physical therapy, ergonomic changes, other medical treatment, or referral.
After treatment
Response and duration vary.
Temporary soreness may occur. Some patients improve in pain, tightness, movement, or function; others have limited or no meaningful response. Relief is not guaranteed or necessarily permanent, and symptoms may recur.
THE PROCESS
What to Expect
01
CONSULT
Discuss symptoms, history, previous treatment, and functional effects.
02
EXAMINE
Determine whether muscular trigger points appear to contribute.
03
TREAT
Explain and perform the injection when appropriate.
04
FOLLOW UP
Assess response and consider rehabilitation, further evaluation, or referral.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a trigger point?
A trigger point is a localized tender area within a muscle that may contribute to pain, tightness, or altered muscle function. Not all muscle pain is caused by trigger points, so examination is important.
What is injected during a trigger point injection?
At VECTOR, trigger point injections currently utilize lidocaine, a local anesthetic, when clinically appropriate. Your provider will explain the treatment, what is being used, and what to expect before the procedure.
Are trigger point injections the same as PRP?
No. Trigger point injections are used for selected muscular trigger points and myofascial pain. PRP is a platelet-based regenerative treatment that may be considered for selected joint, tendon, ligament, or soft-tissue conditions.
Are trigger point injections the same as joint injections?
No. A trigger point injection targets an identified area of muscle. A joint injection targets a joint and is performed for different clinical reasons.
How quickly do trigger point injections work?
Response and timing vary depending on the individual, the area treated, the underlying problem, and the treatment used. Some patients may notice improvement relatively quickly, while others may have limited or no meaningful response.
How long will the results last?
There is no standard duration of benefit. Improvement may be temporary, symptoms may recur, and some patients may not experience significant relief. Addressing contributing factors may be important when symptoms are recurrent.
Will I need more than one injection?
That depends on your symptoms, clinical findings, response to treatment, and overall care plan. Repeated injections should not be automatic simply because symptoms return.
Are trigger point injections safe?
Trigger point injections have potential risks, including pain, bleeding, bruising, infection, medication-related effects, and injury to nearby structures. The risks depend in part on the treatment area and what is injected. Your provider will discuss relevant risks before treatment.
Do I need a concierge membership for trigger point injections?
No. Trigger point injections are available separately from VECTOR's concierge medicine membership.
Is a trigger point injection the same as dry needling?
No. A trigger point injection delivers lidocaine, a local anesthetic, into an identified trigger point; dry needling uses a needle without medication.
Why does my shoulder knot keep coming back?
Trigger points can recur with overuse, repetitive activity, prolonged positioning or altered movement. And not every recurring muscle pain is a trigger point — joints, nerves, tendons and discs can also be the source.
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