Trigger Point Injections for Back Pain and Fibromyalgia…

Chronic pain can come from painful areas of muscle that contain knots of muscle that form when the muscles do not relax (trigger points). People suffering from Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain, Back Pain, Headaches and other muscle problems fall into this category. TPI (Trigger Point Injections) are used to treat the muscle pain in arms, legs, lower back and neck. You may be offered a sedative before the procedure as this relieves anxiety and helps your relax although I've never needed nor been offered this. A consultant or health care professional using a small needle injects local anaesthetic which sometimes includes steroid into the trigger point. The reason for this is that it makes the trigger point inactive and the pain alleviated and for some can result in quite a substantial relief.

Not all doctors give these injections in exactly the same way, but this is generally what will happen.

• Observations, such as blood pressure and pulse rate, might be taken.
• A small needle (cannula) might be placed in the back of your hand.
• You will be carefully positioned, and the skin around the injection sites will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution or spray. This can feel very cold.
• You will feel a stinging sensation as local anaesthetic is injected to numb the skin and surrounding tissues. Your doctor will warn you of this.
• The doctor will direct the needles to the area suspected to be a source of pain.
• When the injections are given, you might feel pressure, tightness or a pushing sensation. If there is any discomfort, let the doctor know.

You are soon allowed home after this procedure but you need a friend or relative to pick you up and stay with you for the first 24 hours after the injection(s). The pain may initially feel worse than before you had the injection, but that's quite normal and is mostly temporary and settles within three to four days. Some other problems can be infection, bruising, loss of sensation or muscle weakness but are hardly ever present and all treatable. Another side effect which I used to get is facial flushing from the steroid which only lasts a day or two then settles down again. Although slightly unpleasant the benefits out way the short discomfort you feel as I can reduce my pain relief quite a bit over the next few months.